Donald D. Mantel

Donald D. Mantel, 78, of Uniontown, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Summa Health System.
He was born on May 24, 1947, in Utrecht, The Netherlands, to the late Gerhard Rudolf and Johanna (Scheffer) Mantel. Due to the housing shortage in the post-war Netherlands, Donald spent his early childhood on his uncle's houseboat. Four years later, Donald and his family relocated to El Palomar, Argentina, where he would spend the next four years before returning to the Netherlands. In 1956, Donald's grandaunt, Gezina Mantel, and her husband, Hendrik Meijer, founders of Meijer Supercenters, sponsored the family's immigration to the United States. They moved first to Grand Rapids, then to Saginaw, Michigan, and finally settled in the Chicago suburbs, where Donald would graduate from Waukegan High School in 1965. After high school, Donald attended the University of Illinois and later Saint Louis University - Parks Air College. Upon his return to the Chicago area, he married Marcia E. (Zarko) Mantel on December 1, 1973, in Downers Grove, Illinois, who preceded him in death on June 27, 1999. Donald moved to the Akron area in 1976, and in 1983, assisted in the creation of Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO). Later that same year, he started his own water systems company, Donamarc Water Systems Co., retiring in 2020 after 37 years of dedicated service to the community.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 20 years, Anna M. (Keblesh) Mantel, whom he married on March 12, 2005, in Canton, Ohio. Donald loved spending time outdoors with his family, including sailing, camping, going on bike rides, ice and roller skating, swimming, and even earning his private pilot's license. In the later part of his life, Donald had a passion for cultural pursuits, such as ballroom dancing, attending Broadway plays in Cleveland, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and watching musicals. He was a member of the Home Builders Association of Portage and Summit Counties, Akron Executives Association, Green Chamber of Commerce, and in 2017, became a member of St. Francis De Sales Parish. He had a mechanical mind and lived his life with a tenacious spirit.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his 5 children, Brandon (Leah) Mantel, Kara (Doug) Joseph, Jeremy (Heather) Mantel, Derek (Carrie) Mantel, and Kristen (Matt) Adkins, 22 grandchildren, Caleb (Rachel) Mantel, Abigail (Tony) Carroscia, Julia Mantel, Matthias Mantel, Lydia Mantel, Micah Mantel, Elssa Mantel, Ethan Mantel, Felicity Mantel, Elliot Mantel, Jim Joseph, Corinth Mantel, Corban Mantel, Caiden Mantel, Colton Mantel, Cody Mantel, Amelia Mantel, Grady Mantel, Johana Mantel, Malachi Mantel, Eli Adkins, and Carson Adkins, 2 great grandchildren, Atticus Mantel and Ray Carroscia, one sister, Ineke Kirby, a brother, Hans (Virginia) Mantel, 2 stepchildren, Emily (Brian) Stephens and Michael Stich, and 6 step grandchildren, Brandon Stephens, Kate Stephens, Lainey Stephens, Harry Stephens, Andy Stich, and Abby Stich. Donald will be greatly missed and always remembered by all his loving family and friends.
The family will receive friends on Friday, May 30, from 5-8 pm, at the Anthony Funeral Home - Green Chapel, 4178 Massillon Rd. (entrance off of Steese Rd.). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 31, 11:00 am, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church 4019 Manchester Rd, Akron, OH 44319. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Please consider a memorial in Don's memory to the church. To view the full obituary, please visit www.anthonyfh.com . (Anthony, GREEN)