Donald E. "Piney Woods" Brasaemle

Don Brasaemle, 83, passed away on March 23, 2023, after a brief illness. He was born on August 12, 1939, in Barberton to the late Roy and Thelma Brasaemle. Don graduated from Coventry High School in 1957 and married his high school sweetheart the following year. Together they raised their four children in the City of Green.

Having been raised in a long line of entrepreneurs, Don took his interests and expertise in the rubber industry to successfully start Taradon Rubber Company in 1972. As owner and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products for the dental, medical, and industrial fields, his small, but mighty company was known throughout the country for quality and personal service. Being self-employed offered many opportunities for Don to be available for his family when they needed him. He never said no to chaperoning a field trip, picking up or dropping off his children at school, assisting his wife in her floral business, or tending to his grandson after school.

Don was quick-witted and always had several jokes at the ready or a great story to tell. As a lover of music and radio, Don found a second home on the radio as Piney Woods, a complimentary personality to Akron’s own Jaybird Drennan (WSLR). He joined Jaybird not just on the air, but at personal appearances and events. He emceed numerous concerts and during the 1980s served as a president of a local chapter of the Ohio Country and Western Music Association. Piney later found himself as a regular on Stan Piatt’s “The Talk of Akron” (WNIR). Don continued to enjoy sharing the wit and wisdom of Piney everywhere he went. Don loved building Piney’s repertoire of jokes and endless family tales of Burnt House, WV.

The center of Don’s world was his family and friends turned family. He regarded his son-in-law and his “best daughter-in-law” as his own children. Don/Piney made countless friends during his lifetime and no one was ever a stranger to him. He had a genuine passion for others and would go out of his way to help those in need. He cared deeply for all animals, especially dogs, and cats.

Besides his parents, Don was preceded in death by his loving wife, Clara. He is survived by his sons, Joe (Karen Oplinger) and Mike Brasaemle; daughters, Teresa Brasaemle and Erin (James) Bennett; grandchildren, Amanda Schrader, Daniel Oplinger, USMC; and Harrison Bennett; great-grandchildren, Brant, Adrian, and Alisianna; as well as many dear friends, including Diana Collins.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and doctors of Barberton Citizen Hospital’s ER, 1 East, and 2 East, and the emergency services of the City of Green.

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

A memorial service will be held at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, Ohio 44319 with Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler officiating.  Family and friends may call from 4 P.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please take time to plant a tree with your loved ones. To leave a special message for the family, visit our website at www.schermesserfh.com.

SCHERMESSER
(330) 899-9107
www.schermesserfh.com

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