Jul 3, 2025

North Ridgeville

Donald “Donnie” Alan Schiffbauer, 78, of North Ridgeville passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2025.

He was born and raised in Uniontown, Pennsylvania where he met and married his high school sweetheart and wife of 53 years, Gina Colabianchi.

Donnie served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1977. His service led him to travel to Alaska, The Philippines, Vietnam, Arizona, and Montana before settling down in Cleveland, Ohio to raise a family. After being honorably discharged he was employed by the United States Postal Service for 31 years.

If you knew our dad, you knew he loved to talk. Our mom could regularly be heard impatiently calling, “Come on, Donnie!” to get them on their way.

He was an avid reader of history and any small-town newspaper he could get his hands on. He loved baseball and spent many summer days during his childhood in a neighborhood sandlot, playing until dark. He loved to read by the lake with a coffee “hotter than the fires of hell and damnation” in hand. He was happiest driving down an open highway, traveling with his family to destinations across the country, often stopping to visit battlefields, old cemeteries, and obscure historic landmarks. He was a storyteller with a steel trap memory and a heart of gold. And he was an amazing, compassionate dad to Donnie, Lisa, Lori and Lana. He never missed our games and, at every track meet, could be counted on to station himself at the last turn, most likely still in his postal uniform, cheering loudly for us to finish strong. He was a beloved Pap to Molly, Donnie, Lizzie, Lawson, Sydney, Kelly, Elliot, Henry and Noa. But most of all, he was Gina’s husband, and he loved her fiercely. Four years after his wife’s death, he answered her call one more time. We will never pay for another breakfast without thinking of him. Though we’ll miss him beyond belief, we are so happy Gina and Donnie are together again. We love you Mom and Dad. Thank you for everything. Jo ejszakat, apa

Services are private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

To send an online condolence, please visit www.bognerfamilyfuneralhome.com