Donald Joseph Schwieterman, M.D., a physician in Maria Stein for more than 37 years, passed away on January 19 at the age of 87.

Donald's devotion to his patients and personal interest in their lives made him a revered figure in the community. Born on September 4, 1931, his interest in the medical profession was formed during his childhood, when his family lived in an apartment directly above his father Urban's pharmacy, Schwieterman's Drug Store, in New Bremen, Ohio.

Urban, the son of a farmer, from St. Sebastian, had purchased the store in 1916, but responsibility for it passed to Corinne, Donald's mother, when Urban passed away suddenly in 1945.

Don spent part of his youth playing on wooden rafts on the Miami & Erie Canal with David, his older brother, and his sisters Gertrude (Trudy) and Betty Jo. He spent several summers working the drug store's soda fountain before following his father's path to the University of Cincinnati's College of Pharmacy, sometimes hitchhiking to school down Route 66 with his brother.

He graduated in 1953 and enrolled at Xavier University to fulfill his liberal arts requirements for medical school. In 1954, he entered the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, graduating in 1958.

Donald met Marilyn Willke, the daughter of Edgar J. Willke, M.D., from Maria Stein, in 1952, when Marilyn was a lifeguard at the New Bremen Swimming Pool. The couple wed in 1955, and four years later, Don joined Dr. Willke's medical practice on State Route 119 in Maria Stein.

In those early years, "Doc" Schwieterman made house calls, carrying his leather bag with medicines, bandages, and instruments to patient's homes in surrounding communities. He delivered more than 5,000 babies at the hospital in Coldwater and is fondly remembered by nurses for singing "How Great Thou Art" during deliveries. Often, he found himself delivering two or three babies in a single evening, an obligation he cherished.

Don and Marilyn had six children, although the third, John, died in infancy. Don encouraged his other five sons to participate in the Marion Local High School Band, for which he served as a founding booster, as well as Boy Scouts, and various sports. All five of his sons became Eagle Scouts.

Their third son, Jim, joined the practice in 1991, as did his fifth son, Tom, in 1996. After retiring in 1997, Don continued his hobbies, including enjoying Broadway musicals, collecting miniature porcelain doctors, working on crossword puzzles, and traveling, often to Cincinnati and Chicago. He and Marilyn moved to a retirement community in Mason, Ohio, near Cincinnati, in 2014.

Don had a lively sense of humor that entertained generations of children at the doctor's office. He was known for telling children there were 'mice in their ears' during an exam.

With a Super 8 movie camera and lots of imagination, he went to great lengths making full-production home movies, using his kids, nieces, and nephews as lead characters. These remarkable productions always garnered laughs at family events.

Recalling that he earned his Eagle Scout at the same time as astronaut Neil Armstrong of Wapakoneta, Don often quipped that "Neil went to the moon, and I went seven miles from New Bremen to Maria Stein". He also was known for writing elaborate emails or poems to his grandchildren and his nieces, nephews and relatives on their birthdays.

Don's health suffered in recent years, but he was strong enough to attend the reunion marking the 60th anniversary of his medical school graduation in April. His class was greeted with great fanfare and a standing ovation from the younger UC Medical alumni. It seemed to be a fitting acknowledgement for a life and career dedicated to medicine and helping others.

Don is survived by his wife, Marilyn of 63 years, five sons, William (Patricia) of Mobile, Alabama, Joseph (Nancy) of Flossmoor, Illinois, James (Theresa) of Maria Stein, Robert (Brenda) of West Chester, Ohio, and Thomas (Maria) of Cincinnati.

He was preceded in death by David Schwieterman (brother), Trudy Kuenning (sister) and Betty Jo (sister) and Donald Gormley (brother-in-law), and Roseann Spitzer (sister-in-law).

He is also survived also by 17 grandchildren, Ruth Schwieterman (wife of brother David), William (brother-in-law) and Esther Willke, Janet (sister-in-law) and Jim Bolton, and Robert Spitzer (brother-in-law).

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, January 26, 2019 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery in Maria Stein.

Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 pm Friday, January 25, and 9:00 to 10:00 am Saturday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Minster.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Mulherin Home, 2496 Halls Mill Road, Mobile AL. 36606. Mulherin Home provides support and respite for families caring for individuals with autism and other special needs.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com. He will be interred at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery in Maria Stein.