Donald Norman Mann, Senior died peacefully in his sleep August 10, 2018 in Melbourne, FL, where he lived with his loving and devoted companion, Marilyn Primrose.
Born in Medford, Don was the son of the late James and Ethel (Morris) Mann. Don was raised and educated in Medford and was a graduate of the Medford Vocational High School. Don was an active member of Demolay and Civil Air Patrol as a youth and young adult, before he enlisted in the United States Air Force, retiring to Florida as a Master Sergeant in 1973. During his twenty years in the USAF, he proudly served during the Vietnam War. Don pursued his passion for airplanes first as a plane mechanic, then as an air traffic controller. His service earned him three Air Force Commendation medals. Don’s overseas tours were in Germany; Pleiku, Vietnam and Goose Bay, Labrador.
While in the Air Force, Sergeant Mann earned his private pilot’s license, giving great joy to his family with fun flights, sightseeing or traveling to favorite vacation destinations by small aircraft.
Retiring from the USAF in FL, Don worked in the control tower at Sanford Airport, then with the FAA. He later worked for America West Airlines, in St. Petersburg, then retired to Melbourne where he could watch launches from our nation’s Space Center.
Dear brother of the late Either, James, Roy, William, George and Robert Mann, he was a loving and caring father of Katherine Ilene (Mann) “Kim” Paulk of NYC, NY; Donald Norman Mann, Jr. of Vero Beach, FL; and William Curtis Mann, of FL. Don is also survived by seven grandchildren, Daniel, Julie, Jennifer (deceased), Brandon, Allison and Shelli and nine great-grandchildren.
Mr. Mann also loved giving back to his community, serving as a volunteer with various charitable organizations and then with his beloved Marilyn at their church.
A service will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 1 PM at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut St. Arlington. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home two hours prior to the service from 11: 00 AM – 1:00 PM. Services will conclude with military honors at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Leader Dogs for the Blind, 1039 S. Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills, MI 48307 will be deeply appreciated.
For directions or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.keefefuneralhome.com.