Donald James Gliem 8/13/33 – 10/30/2020 of Picture Book Park, West Bloomfield, NY Don was pre-deceased by his son Jim in 1974. Survived by his wife Monica, sisters Ruth Chiasson of Ft. Myers, Fl and Catherine Thrash of Boise, ID. Also, children Teri (Mark) Bergevin and Thomas (Darlene Galetto) Gliem, grandchildren Cortney (David) Farley, Mark and Christopher Bergevin, great-grandchildren David (Maygen Repass) Farley, Kaylie (Nicholas Mest) Farley, Nicholas, Nathan, Alanna, Arianna and Aidan Farley, great-great-grandchildren Braelynn and Ivy Farley and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be held Wednesday November 4 at 1PM at Oakwood Cemetery, Baird Rd. Penfield, NY following a private family service. The family is requesting everyone to wear a mask and adhere to social distancing rules due to Covid.
Don was born in Hazelton, PA the tenth of eleven children to Laura and George Gliem. When he was a young boy the family moved to Rochester, NY. At seventeen he went to work for the American Can Co. in Fairport, NY. Then at 21 he began his many years with Jarl Extrusions in East Rochester, NY. He started out as a press operator and when he left there his title was Vice President of Manufacturing. He was instrumental in planning and designing the Jarl plant in Elizabethton, TN traveling back and forth between both plants.
In 1974 he went to work for an aluminum plant in Long Island, NY and lived there with his family until 1976 when he accepted a job with Kodak in Rochester, NY. He retired from Kodak in 1988.
First and foremost was his love of family. He enjoyed the many times he got together with his brothers and sisters for a musical jam fest. He played the guitar by ear all of his adult life and could pick up a tune just by hearing it a couple of times. He also played the organ fluently.
Boating and fishing with family were another of his hobbies. Every summer Don and Monica rented a cottage on Canandaigua Lake and he loved to water ski. One time he trusted Monica to drive the boat but needed another person on board so asked his sister Evelyn (who was totally blind) to be the lookout. That became a family joke for many years.
He was a Buffalo Bills fan along with his two great-grandsons. One of them told him, “Pa, even if they are losing you still have to root for them.”
In 1994 Don and Monica bought a travel trailer and spent the month of January each year in Naples, Fl. but when Monica retired in 1998 they spent three months each year there. That was the highlight of his winters. In the summer time he was busy growing his vegetable garden and planting flowers.
So, as you can see, Don and his family had a busy, happy and productive life. He often said when he passed away he hoped it would be in his sleep and at 87 his wish came true.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The American Heart Association
https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/donatenow_heart.html?s_src=123DR
Comments
5 responses to “Gliem, Donald J.”
Dear Monica we read in today obits about Don passing and had lost contact with you folks after you moved from Creekbend. Our son Bill Gamble was a good friend of your son Jimmie and was very upset with his early passing due to cancer. I will forward this information to him…As I tried to remember back then it seems Don may have been involved in Scouts and or Little League baseball back then. God Bless you and your family ..Gerry and Bill
Dear Monica,
I’m very sorry for the passing of your beloved husband. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting you or Don I was a classmate of Jim’s. Throughout the years I have thought of him with fondness. Jim was a very quiet person, as was I. One thing I have never forgotten, was his kindness to me.
Most sincerely,
Christine Mc Guire-Downs
I have to say I’m sorry to hear of Don passing. I spend a lot of time remembering some of the times we had together after I got married I lost contact with you all but could never lose those memories. Just last mouth while camping at Sampson State I told he story’s of our camping trip with you guys and tag with the boats. As always I pray That he is in a better place watching the Packer Football with their #1 fan and Red Sox baseball as well. Your family will always.
Thank you so much for sharing memories of the fun times we had together. I just told the same story Saturday night of our game of boat tag at Sampson. My dad had the time of his life when we all went boating together and I agree we’ll never lose those memories. My mom wanted to be sure I tell you we would very much enjoy getting together once this Covid thing is a non issue. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness- Teri
Teri & family – My deepest sympathy on the passing of your dad. I lost mine a little over a year ago but he also lived a good long life. Thinking of your mom & all of you Wendi