Donald Mellema, 84, longtime resident of Park Ridge, passed away on December 3, 2021 after a battle with cancer. He was born in Chicago on March 30, 1937 to the late Raymond and the late Dorothy nee Miller. Don was the beloved husband of the late Freda nee Dieterlen; loving father of Darryl and Duane (Vickie); cherished grandfather of Paul, Lucy, Ethan, Jake and Adam; and fond brother-in-law of Paul (Janet) Dieterlen, Carl Dieterlen, Glenn (Wanda) Dieterlen and Janice (Norman) Segal. Don was a 1959 graduate of Beloit College where he earned a degree in speech and theater. Don worked at several radio stations including in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Fort Wayne, Indiana and Indianapolis before taking a job with WGN in 1966. In 1969, he began a 29-year career with WBBM where he was the morning news reporter. One of the highlights of his career was in 1982, when he reported on the Tylenol cyanide case. Don also served in the Army National Guard from 1959-1963. Services were private.
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