Donald E. VanMeter

Dunkirk, IN.

Donald E. VanMeter

Donald E. VanMeter, 81, of Windsor, CO, formerly of Dunkirk, IN, went to be with his Lord and Savior on October 9, 2023. Don was born in Ashtabula, OH, on August 30, 1942, a son of the late Mary Naomi (Fry) and Eugene VanMeter. He attended elementary school in Bloomington, IN, and Scott Center School in Angola, IN, graduated from Fremont High School in Fremont, IN, where he was active in the FAA Parliamentary Procedure Team, received his Bachelor's Degree in Agronomy from Purdue University, a Master's Degree in Soil Science from Michigan State University, and his Adult Education Degree from Indiana University. Don was a former member of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in Dunkirk, IN, their adult Sunday School Teacher for many years, the International Soil and Water Conservation Society President, American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society, Indiana Academy of Scientists, Environmental Academy of Sciences, Certified Soil Sciences, Department of Natural Resources Chair, Acting Dean to the College of Sciences and Humanities, Associate Dean of the College of Sciences and Humanities, Exchange Professor at the Warsaw, Poland Agricultural University and Visiting Professor in Costa Rica. He was appointed by 3 Indiana Governors to the Advisory Council of Indiana Department of Natural Resources and elected a Fellow in the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Throughout his life, Don shared his passion for preserving nature and all of God's Creation in the hobbies he enjoyed, career path he chose, education he wanted to share with others and even the memberships he accepted. He hosted a PBS TV show called Indiana Outdoors, emphasizing Indiana's natural resources, was a motivational speaker on environmental issues, natural resources, healthy soil preservation, was kind, wise and cared for his family and world conservation to his core. In 2012, Don and his wife moved to Colorado to be closer to their daughter and grandson, and enjoyed traveling to Eastern and Western Europe with family following retirement. Don is survived by his wife of 59 years Lorna E. (Sellers) VanMeter, daughter Dr. Adele Morano (Jason McCanless), grandson Alex Morano, brother in laws; Alan Gove and Marshall Sellers (Suzi), sister in law Jean Sellers and several cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his parents Mary Naomi and Eugene VanMeter, sister Pamela Gove, brother in law Graham Sellers, and son in law Dave Morano. Graveside services will be held at a later date in Black Cemetery in Albany, IN. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ball State University Natural Resource Department or Mt.Tabor Church in Dunkirk, IN. Arrangements have been entrusted to MJS Mortuaries.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald E. VanMeter, please visit our floral store.