Donald Eugene Zelmer

Donald Eugene Zelmer passed from this life on 6 January 2022 at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia.

Don was born 16 December 1945 in Carlinville, Macoupin Co., Illinois to Lewis Harold Zelmer and Evelyn Francis Best. He grew up in Palmyra Illinois, attending elementary and high school in the Palmyra area. At the age of 16, Don obtained his small aircraft pilot’s license and completed over 300 flights between 1961 and 1968.

Don graduated in 1968 from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois with a degree in electrical engineering. He was employed as a broadcast engineer for the PBS television station WSIU/WUSI near Olney, Richland Co., Illinois, where he and his family lived for 12 years. He often fearlessly climbed the 1000 foot tower behind the television station to troubleshoot technical issues.

In 1980 an employment change required a move to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois where he worked for the radio communication corporation Harris and later the radio equipment company Glenayre (Quintron). Here he began his travel adventures, spending many months in remote areas of the world installing radio equipment and communication towers, often in harsh and dangerous conditions.

In 1992 Don and his family moved to Marietta, Cobb Co., Georgia where Don began his position with what is now the AT&T company. He continued to be employed with AT&T for 30 years until his passing. Don is credited as the inventor on 6 patents through his radio frequency work with the corporation.

During his time with AT&T and its affiliates, he continued to travel promoting strong standards for the communication field worldwide. Don served on the ATIS Wireless Technologies and Systems Committee (WTSC), was Chair of a WTSC subcommittee and served multiple terms in the role of WTSC Chair and Vice Chair.

Most notably, Don served as Vice Chair for the global initiative - The Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for cellular telecommunications technologies. In March 2018, he was presented with the 3GPP Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of a fine volume of work and a career spent ensuring that everyone in his path received respect, equality and fairness before all else.

Don married Linda Louise Skogley on 3 September 1968. In that same year he and his wife joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their marriage was sealed for time and all eternity on 26 January 1971 in the Salt Lake Temple of our God. He was very active in the Church having served in various Stake, Ward, and Branch callings, including serving as the Olney, Illinois Branch President for over 10 years.

He and his wife are the parents of 6 children and their spouses, Melynda Benjamin of Clarksville, Tennessee, Steven Zelmer of Champaign, Illinois, Jared and wife Jennifer Zelmer of Round Rock, Texas, Pepper Brown of Woodstock, Georgia, Aaron Samuel Zelmer of Manchester, England, and Esther and husband Michael Glazebrook of Kingwood, Texas.

Don was proceeded in death by his wife Linda L Zelmer on 6 October 2018. He is survived by 2 sisters Linda Zelmer Lally and Margie Zelmer Arnett, his 6 children (2 spouses), 15 grandchildren, and 2 great- grandchildren (with one on way).

Don faithfully loved his family and was always ready to help and assist them in any way. He passed following a short illness on 6 January 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 76 years old.
He will be missed greatly.