Donald P. Gordon

Donald Gordon was a hard working and loyal member of the Scottville community for his entire life. He cared deeply for his family and showed it by providing faithfully for them and sharing much love and laughter.

The year was 1923 and gas was 20 cents a gallon and a first-class stamp was only 2 cents. Overseas, Adolf Hitler was in prison for attempting to overthrow the German government and Mussolini had just gained power in Italy. These events were far from the minds of Percy Gordon and his wife, Pearl (Pappe), of Scottville, Michigan. They were focusing their attention on the newest member of their family, son Donald Percy, who was born on October 11, 1923.

While many people were flocking to the cities to take part in the industrial revolution, the Gordons were perfectly happy on their family farm, which was located on Gordon Road (named after Donald's grandfather) just north of Hansen Road. A portion of the farm also bordered the east shoreline of Hackert Lake, where Don spent many afternoons fishing while looking after the cows. During the winter, Don would help his father collect ice from the lake for the family to use during the summer months. Along with his brother Robert, Don grew up with an appreciation for hard work with all the daily farm chores. The two boys were each others best friend, and would spend hours, catching frogs and turtles, riding Don's bike, or hitting baseballs onto the roof of their barn. In addition, he also attended Jones School, where he learned to play the violin, and went on to graduate from Scottville High School in 1942.

Don went to work on his Uncle Harry Pappe's farm after graduating, but then followed the same patriotic calling of many young men of the time, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He courageously served during World War II in the South Pacific, Siapan, Guam, the Philippines, and on Iwo Jima. Upon his honorable discharge, Don safely returned home to his family and began working part-time at the Mason County Road Commission in addition to helping on the farms. Eventually, he went full-time at the Road Commission, where he drove a truck for the most part, but later operated the front-end loader. During the winter, he also inspected the roads and drove a plow when necessary. After 42 years of dedication, Don retired in 1988.

In 1949, a wonderful thing happened to Don - he met the love of his life, Clarice Kortge. Don worked with her father at the Road Commission, but Clarice also knew Don's mother. Both the families played cupid with the young couple, which worked, because they soon began dating. After they were courting for six years, Clarice's family decided to move to Grand Rapids and Don couldn't see himself without Clarice so he asked her to marry him. They were happily married on November 23, 1955, by Clarice's grandfather, George Griswold, who was the Justice of the Peace. Don and Clarice were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Nancy born in 1961, and Colleen in 1967.

Don was a real outdoorsman, though when he went hunting with his cousin, Russ Wolf, he never shot anything because animals were just to beautiful to shoot. He'd rather take in the fresh air and commune with nature his own way - peaceably. In fact, many of their family vacations were spent venturing through the countryside, admiring nature. They'd pack the car and head for the corner of Johnson Road and US-31, where they would decide on a whim whether to go north or south on a new adventure. Most of the time they headed north to the Upper Peninsula where there was lots to see. There were, however, a few "planned" trips, which included Niagara Falls and around Lake Superior. But all in all, they never knew where they were going until they got there. Working for the Road Commission, Don knew lots of out of the way places and he'd take his family on day trips to see them or to a site he was working at. Don's family was always very important to him and he continued to help out on his parents' farm whenever he could. He greatly looked forward to the holidays when they could be together too.

After retiring, Don had more time to dedicate to his many interests. With a real green thumb, he loved spending hours tending to his garden or manicuring his lawn and flowers. He also grew big ever-bearing raspberry bushes that bore fruit well into October, and he always shared his bounty with family and friends. With a real soft spot for animals, Don frequently took in stray cats, much to Clarice's dismay. When he wasn't out in the garden, Don enjoyed catching a Tiger's game on the radio and on occasion, he actually attended a few games in Detroit. Baseball was probably his favorite sport, and all though he was bound to a wheelchair in later years, he still loved to play catch with his grandchildren. When it came to his listening pleasure, Don owned an old Victrola record player and a large record collection that still crooned out his favorite tunes, like big band music, country or songs by Guy Lombardo.

In his community, Don was a lifetime member of the Custer Gold Bar VFW Post 5096, and a proud flag bearer for the Post in the parades. He was also a member of the Honor Guard, serving coffee during Bingo, and an over 50-year member of the Eagles. For the past three years, Don resided at Tendercare Nursing Home, where he enjoyed the various music programs, bingo and especially looked forward to the Scottville Clown Band performance. All who knew Donald Gordon will miss this warm and loving man.

Donald Percy Gordon passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 4, 2006, at Tendercare of Ludington following a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law, Dean Kortge, his sister-in-law, Clara Lou Kortge, two nephews and two nieces. Donald will be greatly missed by his wife of 50 years, Clarice; his daughters and their husbands: Nancy and Robert Keith Jr. of Cadillac, Colleen and Royce Rittenhouse of Ludington; his grandchildren: Kevin Gordon of Lansing, Sierra, Casey and Riley Rittenhouse of Ludington; his brother, Robert and Carolyn Gordon of Muskegon; his brothers-in-law Eulan Kortge of Chicago, Corliss and Peggy Kortge of Scottville, and Cleon and Eileen Kortge of Clarkston; his sister-in-law Barbara Kortge of Texas; his aunt, Alice Gordon of Ludington; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Donald at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville, with Rev. Norman Letsinger of Bachelor Evangelical Covenant Church officiating. Burial with Honor Guard rites will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Eden Township. Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Aviary Fund at Tendercare, 1000 E. Tinkham, Ludington, MI 49431. Please visit Donald's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or sign the online guestbook.

ON THE PASSING OF AN AGED MAN

A quiet unassuming life is o'er, The silent boatman beckons from the other shore;

Across the Stream a boat in silence glides, Through clouds of gloom on even keel it rides;

A soul embarks for that far distant bourne, From whence no traveler ever did return.

Through clouds like trailing weeds the boat departs, Sorrow and grief is wrung from loving hearts;

But while you mourn in sadness for your dead, Eternal sunshine breaks through just ahead.

Written by Don's grandmother, Margaret Gordon on May 19, 1924.