Donald “Don” Stumetz was born on November 25, 1930, in Peoria, Illinois, to Eli Stumetz and Edna Selma Kessler. He passed peacefully into eternity on February 7th, leaving behind a legacy of faith, family, hard work, and hospitality.

In his early youth, Don learned the value of diligence through a variety of jobs, including working as a Steak N Shake curbie, a window mannequin decorator, a gift wrapper at a local department store and an assembly line technician at the Caterpillar Tractor Company. He was drafted and proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps from October 2, 1951, to October 1, 1953, where he was stationed in Yermo, California.

Following his military service, Don worked for McDonald Douglas Aircraft as a line worker, which enabled him to purchase his first home in Anaheim, California. Over the years, he was also employed by General Motors. After attending Dry-Cleaning School in central California and earning his dry-cleaning license, Don entered the trade with the guidance of his father-in-law, Steve Sakach. Through hard work and determination, he eventually became the owner of NuLook 1 HR Dry Cleaners in El Cajon, California.

Don and his beloved wife, Evelyn Jean Sakach, whom he married on October 9, 1955, worked side by side for many years building their dry-cleaning plant into a large and successful family-owned business. Together they instilled a strong work ethic in their children and modeled perseverance, integrity, and dedication. Don was a meticulous businessman who genuinely enjoyed serving the public.

Faith was the cornerstone of Don’s life. A devoted member of the Apostolic Christian Church, he served faithfully as a minister and choir director. He loved the Lord deeply and expressed that love through service, music, and fellowship. Blessed with a distinctive tenor voice, he enjoyed singing and often organized men’s quartets, sharing his joy for music with others.

Don was well known for his generous spirit and gift of hospitality. He became famous among family and friends for his tacos and rarely missed an opportunity to put a steak on the barbecue. He was mechanically inclined and found satisfaction working and tinkering in the garage, around the house and keeping the equipment operating in the dry-cleaning plant. Above all, he was a devoted husband, a proud father, and a loving grandfather and great-grandfather.

Don and “Evie Jean” shared more than 70 wonderful years of marriage – a testament to their deep love and commitment centered around their strong Christian faith.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Evelyn Jean Stumetz; his brother, John Stumetz; his children, Dana Smick (Joel Thomas), Tim Stumetz (Beth), Steve Stumetz (Tara), Paula Dougherty (Steve), and Scott Stumetz (Patti); 17 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. His legacy of faith, music, hard work, and love will continue through the generations.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the compassionate staff at Windsong Memory Care in Kennewick for their attentive and loving care during his final season of life. Special appreciation is also given to Tri-City Chaplaincy for the comfort, dignity, and peace they provided in his final days, making that time especially meaningful for the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Apostolic Christian Church Foundation
PO Box 72
Wooster, OH 44691-0072

Don’s life was a testament to his faith in Christ, devotion to his family, and the joy he found in serving others. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. Don fought the good fight, he finished the race, and he kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7