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In memory of
Doren Clemons Portman
October 6, 1931 - October 15, 2020
Oct 6, 1931 - Oct 15, 2020
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In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Best Friends Animal Society.
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Doren's obituary
Born in Birmingham, Ohio he was the son of Margaret Beulah Clemons Portman and Jesse Harold Portman. During his early years he helped on the family Milk farm . As a young teen he would take the bus to Chardon, Ohio to make extra money collecting maple sap with a horse and sleigh on the maple sugar farms. During Highschool, he met the love of his life JoAnn Josephine Wuitowicz White. He was Oberlin High School's basketball captain and later earned a basketball scholarship to Ohio State University.
He enlisted in the Korean War and served in the Airforce. After the war, he was stationed at Davis-Monthan Airforce base in Tucson Arizona. During this time he married Jo in Dallas,Texas.
He had a special interest in the outdoors and animals. After a brief time at NASA he managed the Oberlin Elevator and did tree trimming for Lorain Medina Rural Electric Company.
Then together with Jo they founded Portman Tree Service and for the next forty years he relished the friends he made during this time in business. At age 86 he hung up his chainsaw and reluctantly parted ways with his 1961 bucket truck.
Doren was active in the community, volunteering as an Oberlin firefighter and retired as a Lieutenant after 40 years of service. He enjoyed horseback riding, raised Percheron horses and kept chickens and goats. He and his daughter Laura made maple syrup from the sap collected from the maple trees on their Oberlin homestead.
He was preceded by his loving wife of 59 years, JoAnn Josephine , his sister Joan Cox of Tuscon, brother Donald James Portman of Ann Arbor , sister Carol Portman of Oberlin and his grandson Elvis Ian Iskenderian.
He leaves to celebrate his life his daughter Laura Portman Iskenderian, son David Portman (Becky) , grandsons Christian Stevens, Christopher Stevens, Jerrod Portman and Nathanial Portman; granddaughters E. Nicole Stevens and Lexi Engesath and 3 great grandbabies. Special Family Marta Stevens and Doug Stevens.
The family extends their gratitude with Sincere appreciation for your comforting expression of sympathy rendered through every act of kindness during our time of bereavement.
Celebration of life with Military Taps will be at a later date.
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In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Best Friends Animal Society.
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Share your sympathy. Send flowers from a local florist to Doren's family or funeral.
In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Best Friends Animal Society.
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Share your sympathy. Send flowers from a local florist to Doren's family or funeral.
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Created with love by
Laura Iskenderian (Doren's daughter).
