Donel H. Wyman

Donel H. Wyman, 82 of Oshkosh, died early Wednesday January 14, 2009 at the Aurora Medical Center. He was born in Freeport, IL on December 22, 1926 son of Charles and Lola Mae Doty Wyman. On December 26, 1975 he married Joan Kaeding in Green Lake, WI.He was very proud of his children and grandchildren, and loved supporting their activities and accomplishments.He was an avid reader and counted Mark Twain as one of his favorite authors. Other hobbies included fishing, playing and coaching softball, playing pool with Larry and friends at the Magnet, and collecting and restoring old cars. He is a past president of Central Wisconsin Auto Collectors Ltd, Oshkosh. He participated in the 100 year anniversary re-enactment of the Great Automobile Race from Green Bay to Madison in his 1933 Rolls Royce. Just last year he went to Chicago where the car was used in scenes in the filming of the Johnny Depp film, Public Enemies. He was also a member of the Candlelight Club.He was a carpenter by trade. A member of Union Local 252 (now Local 955) since June of 1956. He served the Local as Secretary, Vice President, and District Council Delegate. He was instrumental in forming the Fox River Valley Building Trades Council out of three other councils, and became their business manager in 1973. In 1979, for three years, he was the Assistant Coordinator of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Comprehensive Employment Act (CETA) program and as Apprenticeship Coordinator, he instituted an Ironworkers apprenticeship program with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Keshena, He became a blood brother of the tribe for his efforts. He was the secretary of the Winnebago County Labor Council, and then from 1979 to 2000 he was the President of the Winnebago County Labor Council, He served as the Executive Director and chief lobbyist of the Wisconsin State Council of Carpenters in Madison until his retirement from that position in 1990. As a drummer, he was also a member of Musicians Union Local 205. In 1998 he was presented with the Wisconsin Labor History Society Award of Merit for his support of the cause of labor history.He was a lifelong Democrat. He is a past chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the Winnebago County Democratic Party. And in 1979 was the Vice Chair of the 6th Congressional District Democratic Party. As a college student he was one of the organizers of the first University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh College Democrats. He was also an early member of the modern Winnebago County Democratic Party, DOC (Democratic Organizing Committee). He ran for public office on the Democratic ticket for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly in 1984 and 1988 and earlier for Winnebago County Clerk, and City of Oshkosh Alderman. He assisted many others in their campaigns for public office. In 1996 he was a delegate for President Bill Clinton to the Democratic National Convention representing the Sixth Congressional District.He was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran of the Pacific theater in World War II., including the Battle of Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and the Battle of the Philippines, where he served aboard a minesweeper as a member of the underwater demolitions team. He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart.He was active in the Boy Scouts and was the Commissioner and organizer of the Amateur Softball Association Youth Program (Cub Scouts) for 13 years. He was the founder of the Cub Scout Softball program in 1959 and was recognized at the 25th anniversary of the program in 1984.He is survived by his wife, Joan Kaeding of Oshkosh; two sons, Donel D. (Mary Ann) Wyman and Dennis H. Wyman both of Oshkosh; a daughter, Debra (Crockett) Chamberlin of Oshkosh; six grandchildren, Nathan Edward Wyman, David Michael Veith, Kathryn Rose Veith, Joseph Andrew Chamberlin, Christina Tina (Tony) Barzano, and Jason J. (Angie) Jaes; a great grandson, Alex Schoeneck; a sister-in-law, Joan Wyman of Pinellas Park, FL; two brothers-in-law, David (Carol) Kaeding and William (Betty) Kaeding; nieces Sally (Bill) Bacus, Sue (Jerry) Skov, Patty Cummings, and Pene (Don) Shreve; nephews, Steven Klein and Terry Wyman; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, George Bud Wyman; and sisters, Verle Wallner, Thelma Klein, and Phyllis Maillard.Family and friends may gather at the Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside on Saturday January 17, 2009 from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at which time there will be a memorial service. Burial will be in Ellenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials would be appreciated to the Boy Scouts or the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.

Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home - Westside



100 Lake Pointe Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

Saturday, January 17, 2009
10 AM - 1 PM



Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home - Westside



100 Lake Pointe Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

Saturday, January 17, 2009
1:00 PM



Ellenwood cemetery



Washburn and 20th Ave
Oshkosh
WI
54904