Donald C. Chittick, 87, of Somerset, Indiana, died in his home on June 4, 2024 at 7:32 pm. Don was born on December 5, 1936, to Vernon and Lily (Johns) Chittick in Geetingsville, Indiana where he grew up on a subsistence farm that was later named a Hoosier Homestead Farm by the State of Indiana. Don was the youngest of 10 children raised on the land.
Don graduated in 1954 from Rossville High School where he excelled in both basketball and track. His passion for basketball never waned, a lifelong fan of Indiana University Basketball. He was a veteran of the US Air Force. Over his nearly 9 decades of life, Don worked as a bookkeeper, co-owned and operated a masonry company, a trucking company, and later a pizza restaurant within his wife's successful Somerset restaurant Debi's Cafe. In his early adulthood, he worked as a foreman in manufacturing, an over-the-road trucker, and then lived his dream of being a farmer before eventually working for and retiring from the Wabash County Highway Department. He was a skilled builder, loved watching and identifying birds, hunting for deer and mushrooms, and he enjoyed long drives through the countryside throughout his life.
Don is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Deborah (Knable) Chittick of Somerset and their son Darren (Frank Dennis) Chittick of Indianapolis. Don was preceded in death by his former wife Sally Chittick and survived by their daughter Lisa Mechelle (Del) Chittick-Casto of Huntington. He was also preceded by his former wife Carolyn Gillem and is survived by their sons Brett Chittick and Craig (Rhonda) Chittick both of Wabash; their son Jerry Chittick preceded Don in death. Don is survived by his grandchildren; Jennifer (Aaron) Driscoll of Round Lake, Illinois, Jeramie (Emma) Chittick of Lago Vista, Texas, Jami (Scott) Gatchel of Lagro, Indiana, Alison (Aaron) Butcher of Hobart, Indiana, Taylor (Zach) Smith and Kaitlyn (Jordon) Chittick-Myers of Wabash, Matthew Chittick of Fishers, Indiana, Megan (Hunter) Chittick-Wells of North Manchester, and Heather (Jesse) Davis of Huntington. Don is also survived by his brother Paul Chittick, as well as a slew of beautiful great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and his beloved Clayton Oliver of Roanoke, Indiana.
Don didn't want a service, and his ashes will be interred at Geetingsville Cemetery with a gathering of immediate family at a later date. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash.
Don loved the woods and wildlife; in lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to https://indianawildlife.org in his honor.
The memorial guest book for Donald may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
