Donald Keith Appleman was born on September 3, 1930, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the son of Donavan Inslee and Effie VanPelt Appleman. After graduating from Ponca City High School in 1948, he received his B.A. from Westmar College, Le Mars, Iowa (1952) and then earned a B.D. from Evangelical Theological Seminary, Naperville, Illinois (1955). Appleman was licensed as a preacher in May 1949, and was admitted to full membership to the Central Kansas Conference in May 1955 and ordained elder at that time. His appointments included Longford Evangelical United Brethren Church (1955-1957), a special appointment as missionary to Sierra Leone (1958), and Macksville (1969). He took the Supernumerary relation in 1970, voluntary location in 1971, and honorable location in 1977. He married Joyce Louise Sago on June 17, 1952. Their children are Laurie Scott (born 1954), Debra Jo (born 1956), Cheryl Daun (born 1957), and Kathleen Joy (born 1965). Rev. Appleman died on April 11, 2018, at the age of 87, as reported in the Ponca City News.

Note written by Sarah St. John