First Posted: 1/10/2013
LIMA
Dana Aukerman, 88, of Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Lima, died Jan. 4, 2013.
He was born June 12, 1924, in Whittier, Calif., grew up in Lima and lived in several towns in Ohio before moving to Fort Myers, Fla., in 1989.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Betty Bodkin Aukerman.
He is survived by his son, Mike and his wife, Debbie, of Plainfield, Ill.; and grandchildren, Lisa Aukerman, of Charleston, S.C., Matt Aukerman, of Tampa, Fla., Katie Aukerman, of Columbus, Alex Aukerman, of Plainfield, Ill., Garrett and Griffin Wisby, of Plainfield, Ill., and Dana and Jason Derouin, of Kenosha, Wis.
He served in the Army Corps of Engineers in World War II, where he received a Bronze Star. He was a high school principal in Botkins, Willard, Lima, Westerville and Upper Arlington. Prior to serving as a principal, he taught physics and was a high school baseball and basketball coach. During his time working in the school system, he served on the Ohio High School Athletic Board, which oversaw all Ohio high school sports. In the 1960s, he spearheaded the creation of the Ohio Capital Conference, a high school athletic league located in Central Ohio. He was a member of Rotary International and previously served as president of the Brookshire Bath and Tennis Club Association. In his spare time he enjoyed golf, horse and dog racing, and was an avid fan of The Ohio State University Buckeyes football and basketball, as well as a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Church of the Cross, 13500 Freshman Lane, Fort Myers, Fla., followed by a luncheon at the church. Dana will be buried beside his wife Betty in their hometown of Lima.
In lieu of flower, donations may be made on his behalf to the American Cancer Society.
