DONALD WILLIAM HEMMEN

Donald William Hemmen, age 95, of Belton, Missouri, passed away on Monday, September 6, 2021.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sabina Catholic Church, 700 Trevis Ave., Belton, Missouri 64012 followed by inurnment at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, Missouri 64138.

Donald was born in Wichita, Kansas on December 18, 1925 to Joseph Ambrose Hemmen and Helen Geneva (Nedeau) Hemmen. After graduating high school Donald honorable served his country in the United States Army. Donald was a D-Day veteran during WWII. Upon returning home, Donald continued his education receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Business from Creighton University. He was joined in marriage with his late wife, Ella Hemmen. Donald started his own business supplying industrial electrical equipment and had a large part in the creation of Crown Center. Donald was a fantastic homeowner, able to fix and replace anything keeping his home in top shape. He enjoyed golfing, had a gift to make others laugh, and was very well liked by those around him.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Ella Hemmen; parents, Joseph and Helen Hemmen; and sister Roberta Paddock.

He is survived by his two sons, Thomas J. Hemmen and Jeffery P. Hemmen; and daughter, Christine M. Scott (Kenneth).

Don Hemmen was many things to many people, but always intelligent, responsible and funny. He and my mother were great parents and did everything they could for their 3 children. They were both so involved with our activities and lives that it was all the more amazing that they had great careers and lives of their own too!

My brother, Tom, worked with Dad for 11 years and has lots of really fun stories about their time together. The following is an excerpt of an email he sent me recently.

"Dad was a legend in the Industrial Electrical Sales business. He was unbelievably quick-witted, hilariously funny, and a cross between Johnny Carson and Bob Hope. Contractors, engineers, supply house owners that never saw ANYBODY, always allowed me, Don Hemmen's son, in. When Dad did an after-hours sales meeting, instead of the usual 5 or 10 guys in attendance, there would be 15 to 20--including the owners, chief engineers, managers etc. One of the real powerhouse guys said "Your Dad's the one guy I never try to outfox. If you try to match wits with Don Hemmen, you're going to lose." Dad never missed a day of work. He never complained if it was 105 or 5 below zero. He didn't complain about traffic. He didn't care what he ate--"shredded wheat or t-bone steak, it's all the same to me". A typical day at the office consisted of a steady stream of guys young and old--from 20 to 70--coming to talk to Don Hemmen. A legend.

Dad was always appearance conscious. He took great care of everything and really cared about his house, yard, cars, shoes, hats. He loved that Mom had the same values, and they always had fun dressing up, keeping us dressed up and building/decorating houses. I noticed last week, in his apartment at Carnegie, a row of shoes he'd just polished before he was taken to the ER for foot surgery. He hadn't worn those shoes for months, but they were polished.

I've totally enjoyed all of the interactions Dad and I have had since Mom was affected by Alzheimer's. He was a great man. My mother was a great woman. They are both missed greatly by those who knew them....

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278