Donald Allen Ayres, 76 of Clear Lake, passed away on July 6 at home from complications with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Don was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on April 1, 1943 to Paul and Ada (Welker) Ayres. He lived most of his life in Fort Wayne before moving permanently to Clear Lake in 2013.
Don graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in 1961 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Purdue University in 1966.
Don had a lifelong love for cars and started repairing and selling cars with his father when he was very young. Don founded Don Ayres Pontiac in 1970 at the age of 27. At the time, he was the youngest General Motors dealer in the country. He was awarded the Honda franchise in 1973. He and his dealership won many awards over 48 years in business, earning him much respect and esteem from the manufacturers whom he represented and fellow dealers.
Don supported many causes in the Fort Wayne community. He and his business purchased the lighting for the Time Corners Little League’s new ballpark in 1998, and at that time, the little league was renamed Don Ayres Little League. He and his business remained strong supporters of the Don Ayres Little League since that time.
Don was a life long member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne where he was baptized in 1943 and confirmed in 1957. He was most recently a member of Clear Lake Lutheran Church in Fremont.
Don loved being on the water. He was a summer resident of Clear Lake for over 40 years. He loved summer boat rides and spending time with family and friends there. Don spent hours on the lake each weekend when his daughters were young, teaching them to water ski and enjoying water sports with them.
The family is forever grateful to a dedicated group of caregivers (and their families) who improved the quality of his later life including, Patti White, Jenny Samulak, Laurie Shoudel, Wendi Schmucker, Abby Schmucker, Grace Schmucker, Aleesha Goodwin, and Jessica Armstrong. They enabled Don to remain at home throughout his illness.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ada (Welker) Ayres. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sandy Ayres; daughters Sara (Mike) Ayres Craig and Alison (Mark) Ayres Birkmeier both of Fort Wayne; stepsons Mark (Loree) Johnston of Waterloo and Jeff Johnston (Marie Bradbury) of Gahanna, OH; brother Paul Ayres of Monclova, OH; brother-in-law John Grodrian of Fort Wayne; ex-wife Kathleen (Johnson) Ayres of Fort Wayne; grandchildren Kristina and Christian Urberg and John and Paul Birkmeier, all of Fort Wayne; and step grandchildren Lindsay Johnston (Tom Tondiglia) of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Hannahlee Johnston of Pittsburgh, PA and Elizabeth and Alana Craig, both of Fort Wayne.
The funeral service is on Friday, July 12 at 11 AM at Clear Lake Lutheran Church, Fremont, IN with Reverend Jeff Corder and Reverend Richard Radtke officiating. Calling will be one hour before the service. Visitation is also from 1 to 4 PM and 6 to 9 PM on Wednesday, July 10 at D.O McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM Thursday, July 11 at Beams Funeral Home, 200 West Toledo Street, Fremont, Indiana. Burial will be in the Clear Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church Permanent Endowment Fund (1126 Barr Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802,) Clear Lake Lutheran Church (270 Outer Drive, Fremont, IN 46737,) the Clear Lake Yacht Club Building Fund (PO Box 668, Fremont, IN 46737) and Lewy Body Dementia Association (912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, GA 30047.)
