Donald William Gleichman, 90, of McAlester, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2024, peacefully at home with family. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Life Church, 1300 S. George Nigh Expressway McAlester, OK.
Donald “Gramps” Gleichman was born June 23, 1933, in Okarche, Oklahoma to William & Anna Clara (Biller) Gleichman. After graduating from Okarche High School, he attended Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, Nebraska. Here he would meet his future lifetime sweetheart, Peggy K. Weebe, during his freshman year. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953 and trained as a helicopter mechanic.
After completing training, he was, however, assigned to atomic testing at Camp Desert Rock, Nevada. Don was discharged honorably from the army in late 1955. Ten days later, he and Peggy married on December 30, 1955, in Inglewood, CA. He jokingly told people that he went from “Yes, Sir” to “Yes, Dear” in a short amount of time! He also noted that they had a short honeymoon, as each had to go back to work. “So we made it a 63 plus year honeymoon, instead!” Don said.
Living in a suburb of Los Angeles, Don worked as a mechanic for Western Airlines and, with additional schooling, was awarded his Airframe and Powerplant license. In 1957, he was hired by his alma mater, Northrop Institute of Technology, and would teach aviation avionics and electronics to future aircraft mechanics for the next 16 years. In 1973 Don, Peggy, and their three kids moved to Wilburton, OK, where he began ranching and Peggy continued teaching elementary, high school and college courses. They were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in McAlester. Don enjoyed working hard on the ranch, spending time with friends and family and playing cards. Yet Don was mostly known for helping whomever he could and sharing his faith in God.
Don is survived by his son Michael and wife Jean Gleichman; son Kurt and wife Hillary Gleichman; grandchildren, Zach and wife Candace Edwards, Regina and husband Steven Nason, Seth Gleichman, Isaiah and wife Ashley McIntosh, Victoria Gleichman, Katherine and husband Justin Jones, Rebecca Gleichman, Ashby and husband Dan Mizell, and Chloe and husband Joseph Olivetti; 17 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Anna Gleichman, brothers George and John Gleichman, wife Peggy of 63 ½ years, daughter Roxann Gleichman, and great-grandchild Hunter Baumann.
