Donald W. Beard

Donald W. Beard, 86, of Fremont, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2026 at Elmwood Assisted Living. He was born January 12, 1940 in Tiffin, the son of Walter and Pauline (Adams) Beard. On August 20, 1960 he married Charlene Bennehoff, she preceded him in death on December 7, 2023.Don worked as a Dye Caster for General Electric. Beyond his professional life, Don was a cherished member of his community, finding a second family in Alcoholics Anonymous. Celebrating nearly 50 years of sobriety, he inspired countless individuals to lead better lives, embodying resilience, compassion, and hope.In his youth, Don was a musician he played guitar in various bands. He was an enthusiastic supporter of all Ohio sports, passionately cheering for the Cleveland professional teams and Ohio State. He was quite the conversationalist with a wide range of current events and historical facts with those around him. Don enjoyed the tradition of attending the Indy 500 with his brothers. He was a great dad and fantastic grandpa.

Surviving are his children, Troy Beard, Traci (Darrin "DJ") Szymanowski, Tonya (Brent) Michael and Trent (Sara) Beard; grandchildren, Kaleb Szymanowski, Kelsey Szymanowski, Collin Michael, Cayden Michael, Alex Benavides, and Lydia Beard; and great-grandchildren, Payton and Karson; brother Paul Beard of Catawba. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers Ed Beard, Ralph Beard and Jim Malone; great-grandson, Grayson Lee-Michael Garza.

A celebration of life will take place on Sunday, March 29, 2026 from 1-3PM, with memory sharing at 2:30PM at Herman -Karlovetz Funeral Home and Crematory, 900 North Street, Fremont, OH. Private burial will take place at Green Springs Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to AA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hermanfh.com