Donald NORDMEYER

Donald Nordmeyer was born October 11, 1934, in St. Louis, MO, the eldest son of Elmer and Lorene Nordmeyer of Chester, IL. He was raised in Chester, baptized and confirmed in St. John’s Lutheran church, attending St. John’s Lutheran School, Chester High School and St. Paul’s Lutheran High School and College in Concordia, MO. His brother, Bernard, was killed in a bicycle/car accident in 1946. In 1957 he was married to Ruth (nee Ludwig) and they were blessed with six children: Debbie (Jim) Rathert, Patty Green, Barb (Charlie) Ludy, Loriel Nordmeyer, Don (Lin) Nordmeyer, Kathy (John) Steinmeyer. He married Donna (nee Holley) Gualdoni on March 13, 1976, and her three children: Theresa Campbell, Christine (Robert) King, Charles (Michille) Gualdoni were added to the family. Together they have 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. His higher education was taken at Concordia Seminary, Washington University, Southern Illinois University, Pacific Western University. Upon seminary graduation, Donald served as Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran church in Wagner, SD and Bethesda Lutheran church in Hot Springs, SD, where he was also Chaplain at the Veterans Hospital and Domiciliary, State Soldiers Home, and West River Hospital-School for Multiple Handicapped children. While in graduate school at Southern Illinois University, Donald served as Campus chaplain and Graduate Assistant. In December 1965 he was named Program Director at Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, WI, where he served until being named Executive Director of Greater New Orleans Association for Retarded Children in 1969 and later as Executive Director of Missouri ARC in Jefferson City, MO from 1972 to 1974. In November 1974 he returned to Chester for State Farm Insurance Companies, later being promoted to Agency Manager and Field Executive from which he retired in 1998. While living an active life of many great and positive experiences, some of the most memorable are: Becoming (with Donna) charter members of Our Savior Lutheran church in Freeburg, IL; visiting Interlaken and Matterhorn in Switzerland; living and traveling 3 years in RV motor home; co-founder and coordinator of Student Laborers for Christ (later named ‘NAILS’) serving on the Board of Trustees of alma mater St. Paul’s Lutheran High School; being elected Resident Council Chairman of Primrose Retirement Community.

Donald NORDMEYER

October 11, 1934 - November 24, 2024