Donald Norman Cheetham

Donald Norman Cheetham, child of God, of Vero Beach, FL died peacefully at home in his daughter’s arms on March 18, 2023, at the age of 92. He was born in Nashua, NH to Norman Cheetham and Lucy Isabelle Bishop, and was brother to the late Robert Cheetham of Lake City, FL.

He lived most of his life in the Springfield area, Chicopee, and Wilbraham for 85 years.  Don was flown by Air Ambulance to Vero Beach, where he spent his last 2 years and 7 days recovering and enjoying the warmth and sunshine of our little piece of paradise prior to his passing.

We were blessed to have him an extra 27 months before succumbing to respiratory failure and congested heart failure.

Predeceased were great grandparents Thomas and Edith Cheetham from Ramsbottom, England and Oscar Newell Bishop and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Haines from Burtts Corner, New Brunswick, Canada.  She died 10/25/1919 of Spanish Flu in Nashua, NH. Leaving 8 children, ages 2 – 18 years old. Don’s mother Lucy was only 7 at the time and was then raised by her oldest sister, Roxie Annabel.

Don was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Barbara R. “Bobbie” (Watts) Cheetham, originally of Lancaster, PA.

He spent the last 15 years of his life with Sandra “Sandy” Barbeau of Springfield, MA, a cherished friend of over 70 years.

He was a loving father to daughters, Donna Keyes of Stow, MA, (late husband Ralph Keyes) and Linda (Michael) Palmioli of Vero Beach, FL. Known as “Bronka”, he was the devoted grandfather of Ryan Norman Keyes of Rochester Hills, MI, Kathryn (Heather) Keyes of Stow, Timothy (Joanna) Palmioli of East Longmeadow, MA, and Daniel Palmioli of New Orleans, LA.  Bronka’s greatest joy was in becoming a great grandfather to Braelyn Cecelia Keyes of Stow, and step great grandfather, to Emma and Evan Spillane of East Longmeadow. Also, brother-in-law to Joyce Cheetham of Lake City, uncle to William (Debbie) Cheetham of West Springfield and Deborah Cheetham (Charles) Mattheus of Wiaomanalo, HI, great uncle to Gary Cheetham of Springfield, Carl and Rhea Mattheus of Wiaomanalo, godfather to David Carlson of Monson, MA, and cousin to Robert Hanson Murfreesboro, TN.

Don was an honorably discharged Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served his country during the Korean War.  He worked at Marine Base Quantico, VA as a mapmaker and lithographic platemaker.  While there, he and his wife, Bobbie, welcomed their first born, Donna Lee.

He took over as Grand Master of the Indian Orchard Masonic Lodge, of Springfield, when his father-in-law died of a coronary obstruction while waterskiing at their cottage on Little Alum Pond in Brimfield, MA in 1964.

He spent 50 years fixing up an old 1890 Victorian home in Wilbraham, at 15 Maple Street, which hosted many fine family gatherings. He converted the attic into a newlywed apartment for both Donna and Ralph and Linda and Michael. He was a handyman with a good sense of Yankee ingenuity. He could use roofing tar in more ways than could be imagined and used old lithographic plates as step flashing at “camp.”

As a youth, he enjoyed building model planes as well as model trains, and was a former Boy Scout.  Favorites at the camp were fishing, swimming, diving, boating, water skiing, and whipping the kids and grandkids around the lake on a tire tube behind a ski boat at the camp he built on Little Alum Pond.

He also had a passion for fishing and the artistic craft tying his own flies.  Fly fishing in rivers for trout was a favorite pastime. He also had a love for photography and enjoyed developing his photos in the darkroom of his home.

Don enjoyed being at the dinner table surrounded by family and friends, especially at the extra-long picnic table that Dominic built at camp.

Summers were also filled with gardening at the Keyes Homestead Farmhouse.  Many fun hours were had helping his wife, children, and grandchildren with the Wilbraham Ecumenical Bible School and the Annual Peach Festival for nearly 20 years.  Don was adventurous and always ready for a road trip in the O’Baygo (Winnebago). He put a lot of miles on his van taking many trips to Florida and Maine, driving to church youth gatherings, and delivering quilts and food to the soup kitchen.

He was a left-handed pitcher and enjoyed bowling, bike riding, snow skiing, and especially golf with his two best buddies, Matt Metzler, and Bob Hopkins. He was blessed by a recent visit from Bob.

Besides enjoying music and sports himself, he never missed the grandchildren’s band concerts or plays. You would find him in the stands cheering them and their friends on at the swim meets, pole vaulting, soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, and softball games.

As a youth he had a job hand placing duck pins in the back of the bowling alley, going back to school for TV repair, at a time when televisions had tubes. He also worked as a Real Estate Agent with his wife for Gunstock Mountain Resort, NH. His first fulltime employment was in the dark room at Eastern Etching as a step and repeat lithographic platemaker. Don was promoted to the Art Room Supervisor, he was then eventually transferred to the Lavallee & Ide, tool manufacturing division where after 50 years he retired as National Reamer Sales Manager.  He didn’t stay retired for long.  He started working as Greeter at the Wilbraham Funeral Home for an additional 25 years.

Don will be remembered as a loving, caring, quiet man.  He had a dry sense of humor and a quick wit.

Their home and car were always filled with music. Dad would occasionally play the harmonica and even his mother’s accordion.

He enjoyed singing and was a member of the choirs at Bethesda, Christ the King, Our Savior Lutheran, and Wilbraham Men’s and mixed chorus.

He put a smile on the face of every person he met and will be greatly missed by his family and many longtime friends including the Tuesday Lunch Gang at the mall, and Saturday night dinners that included Ruth Carlson, Sandy Barbeau, and Art and Norma Semle.

Traveling, and playing cribbage brought joy to him through his last weeks of life; even winning his last two games.

Celebration of Life will be held on his birthday, April 21, 2023, at 11:30, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Vero Beach.

Service of Remembrance will be at Bethesda Lutheran, Springfield, the morning of May 1st, 2023, arrangements under the direction of Wilbraham Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church Music, 1850 6th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960, Christ the King Lutheran, 758 Main St., Wilbraham, MA 01095, or Shriners Hospital, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.