HERMAN, Donald Arthur
December 29, 1931 - January 19, 2015
Donald Arthur Herman, born December 29, 1931, died January 19, 2015 at the age of 83, after a brave but painful struggle with his family at his side. He is survived by his wife Joan, children Deborah, Shelley, Douglas & Tracey, Kim & Tony, grandsons Matthew, Justin, Dale & Shaun, his brother Albert & Anne, niece Sharon & nephew Charles & Karen. He is predeceased by his sister Evelyn Grace. Don grew up on a farm north of Michichi, learning his avid gardening skills and riding a horse to school. Don then stayed at the dorm and attended Drumheller High School, later attending Tech (SAIT) and excelled in welding and mechanics. He worked with his parents and brother at the Michichi farm for awhile, but when he tired of feeding cows in the winter he went to work on the rigs, in the Munson & Fish Lake areas. He then trucked for Ed Goette, hauling through rural Alberta. On May 8, 1956 he married Joan and started farming in the Over The Hill (Churchill) district until he retired and they moved to Drumheller in November 1996. In his early years at Churchill, Don worked winters at the Atlas Coal Mine running the diesel train engine that hauled the coal cars across the top to the tipple. Don was involved in the Over The Hill community association and drove school bus for 24 years, retiring in 1985, getting to know the neighbors as friends. Don was an avid skier from a young age, then teaching his kids and many others to ski. He first had a ski hill in his coulee, then he worked with the Drumheller Valley Ski Club and was involved with the hills at both Dunphy and the more recent hill in Drumheller. Don was on the board of the Heart to Heart Society. He also had season tickets to the Drumheller Dragons since their inception and enjoyed watching hockey in the valley since the days of the Drumheller Miners. Don was known for tinkering, fixing, and building from when he was young, and never finished until a job was done right. From the time he had a family, that was his greatest joy and concern. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Badlands Community Facility on Friday, January 23 at 2:00 p.m. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
