Donald Eugene Goreham Sr
April 23, 1943 - December 7, 2025
Obituary
Donald Goreham, my beloved husband and best friend, passed peacefully at home on December 7, 2025, surrounded by family. He bravely battled pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Don was born to Paul Lyman Goreham and Rose Sophia Lena (Hupke) Goreham on April 22, 1943, in Britton, Marshall County, SD. He was the fifth youngest of the twelve children born to Paul and Rose.
In the early 1950s, the family left Britton and moved to Edgemont, where his dad went to work at the Black Hills Ordnance Depot in Fall River County. Don graduated from Edgemont High School in 1962. After school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, taking great pride in having served. Following his discharge, he moved to Manteca, CA, where his sister and brother-in-law had relocated from the Black Hills Depot to Sharpe Army Depot. With limited job opportunities back home, he accepted a job at Libby Owen Ford Glass plant in Lathrop, CA. After a year, he was offered a job with the federal government at General Services Administration (GSA) on Rough & Ready Island in Stockton. He worked there for eight years before transferring to Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin (formerly known as Tracy Defense Depot). He worked in various positions, such as packer, forklift driver, and rigger, until his retirement in January 1999. We met while working at GSA. We were married June 1970 at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Manteca. At the time of his passing, Don and Sharon had been married fifty-five years, five months, and sixteen days. He is survived by two children, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
During the early years of our marriage, he earned his associate degree in business at Delta College. Don was a quiet and caring man. He loved his children, grandchildren, and our first great-grandson. When our kids were young, he enjoyed going camping for a few weekends every summer with friends or family. He enjoyed taking the kids to Disneyland and a few trips to visit family in Montana. He worked in the yard and tinkered in the garage, fixing things. After retirement, he became interested in the hobby of genealogy, researching his family tree and ancestors. He enjoyed going to the gym at the Senior Center four days a week, where he made a few great friends. He continued going to the gym until the last few weeks of his life. The Senior Center also had a recurring Wii bowling league that he participated in regularly.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Rose Goreham, sisters: Doris, Alice, Luella, Wanda, Beverly Ann, Baby Girl Paula, brothers: Paul Jr., Willard, Robert, Richard, and Michael.
Don is survived by his wife Sharon (Floding) Goreham, son Donald Goreham Jr. and daughter Tamara (Goreham) Abrew, his grandchildren, Devin Abrew, Makayla (husband Humberto) Webb, Braydin Abrew, Tyler Goreham, Zachary Goreham, Laikin Abrew, Brandon Goreham and Owen Goreham. In addition, he has a great-grandson, Kai Webb, plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family requests that, in place of flowers, please donate to the American Lung Association in Don’s name, or a charity of your choice.
Services
Celebration of Life Services will be January 2, 2026, at 1:00 PM
Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
Reception to follow in J Charles Irwin Reception Center at Cherokee Memorial Park
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Goreham family.
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