Donald Joseph Dobmeier

Donald J. Dobmeier was born in Santa Ana’s Saint Joseph Hospital to Clifford and Isabell (Bettencourt) Dobmeier on 5 July 1944. Donald grew up in the orange groves, avocado orchards and strawberry fields of Orange County. Donald graduated from Garden Grove High School class of 1963 and was gifted one of the first 1964 Mustangs from his beloved Aunt Mary. Donald attended Orange Coast College and Cal State University Fullerton. Donald married Sue Anne Stoecker in April 1967 at Saint Cecilia’s in Tustin. Within a few years Don and Sue with two sons returned to Don’s hometown – the strawberry capital of the world, Garden Grove. Donald and Sue planted roots in Garden Grove and raised one daughter Francisca Teresa and four sons Josef James, Paul Alexander, John Russell and Theodore David– all graduating from Don’s alma mater Garden Grove High School. As an outdoorsmen Don climbed Mount Whitney, fed the bears in Yosemite valley, and took the family on hiking excursions in San Bernadino’s National Forest. Donald had two small businesses and worked as ‘Don the Gardener’ by day and ‘Don the Bartender’ by night. Don’s true passion was the historical beauty of OC. Don was appointed to the OC Historical Commission in 1974 and helped preserve OC’s treasures for 47 years including the Key Ranch in Placentia, Modjeska’s Arden, the old oaks in Irvine, and the Old Orange County Courthouse – Don’s home away from home.

Donald has 10 grandchildren Benjamin, Desmond, James, Tessa, Teddy, Samuel and Vince Gregory, Shelbie Sue (Christian) Korver, and Jack and Clifford. Don chose to stay in his Garden Grove home surrounded by his loving family in his final days. The same cozy home his kind hearted grandmother Francisca Bettencourt babysat him back when it all started in the 1940s. Don passed away on Friday August 2nd at 80 years old. History never ends as long as we remember and cherish it.

Memorial service will be held at Saint Columban’s Catholic church on Monday August 19th at 10am, and then inurnment at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in the city of Orange. Followed by reception at Moreno’s Restaurant on Chapman Avenue.