Donald Sanders

All who knew Donald Sanders would agree that to know him was to love him as he was one of the most caring, generous, and kindhearted people around. He was a man of integrity and honor who answered the call to serve his country during a time of great need. A more devoted family man would be hard to find as it was easy to see that he adored his wife and that the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren they welcomed into the family were Donald’s greatest source of pride and joy. Through his life we are reminded that happiness is not found in what we have, but that it is through the love we share with the ones we treasure that we are richly blessed. Donald will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Born on December 7, 1924, during the vibrant days of the Roaring Twenties, Donald Henry was the youngest of five children born to his parents, Alvin and Pearl (Udey) Sanders, in Ludington, Michigan. His father was a watchmaker while his mother was a busy homemaker who cared for Donald and his older siblings, Dorothy, Marie, Walter, and Alice. He loved hunting and fishing with his father and bagged his first deer at 17. A true outdoorsman at heart, Donald also hunted small game and spent much of the fall season cutting firewood for the family home. He attended local schools and graduated from Ludington High School in 1942. From there Donald took some classes at Michigan State University while also working as a salesman at Fuller Brush.

The landscape of our country was forever changed with the vicious attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and like countless other young men Donald was drafted into the Navy. He spent the following three years serving in the South Pacific, repairing the planes that were fighting on the front lines.

With his duty to his country fulfilled, Donald returned to Michigan and began working for the SS Badger car ferry that traveled across lake Michigan from Ludington to Milwaukee. In 1949 he began working as a jeans salesman for Levi Strauss Co. where he was responsible for covering the majority of Michigan as well as Northern Indiana. Donald called on several clients for years and remained in contact with them long after he retired.

Not to be forgotten during Donald’s years as a young man was his introduction to the woman with whom he would write a love story that would span nearly 60 years. Her name was Marjorie Johnson, and they were smitten right from the start. They began dating, and although they were apart while Donald was serving in the military they picked up right where they left off when he returned. With a desire to share their lives together Donald and Marjorie were married on July 29, 1950, at her parents‘ home.

After a honeymoon on Mackinac Island and in the Upper Peninsula, the newlyweds settled into a home on Ballard Avenue SE in Grand Rapids as it allowed Donald to be centrally located to where his travels for work took him during the week. Together Donald and Marjorie welcomed four children into their hearts and home, Nancy Lee, Marla Kay, Mary Beth, and Laura Lynn. Sadly, Mary Beth died in an auto accident in 1970. Their bustling family moved to a home on 4th Street where they lived for about 15 years before building a home on 3rd Avenue NW. The family enjoyed spending time at their cottage on Clear Lake in N. Muskegon. The Sanders also went to Disney World, New York, and California, in addition to camping all over Michigan. Later, they also enjoyed a cruise to the Bahamas.

In his free time Donald enjoyed pursuing his interests. He loved mushrooming, snowmobiling, and taking fishing trips to Northern Canada with his buddies. Donald enjoyed taking his 21 foot Sea Ray out on Lake Michigan to fish for salmon and steelhead, usually with his wife by his side. He was a country music fan and made fantastic chicken wings on the grill. Donald and Marjorie shared several of the same interests and did everything together such as hunting and fishing. After he retired they were able to travel extensively all over the world including to China, Russia, Europe, Australia, Iceland, Hawaii, Sweden, and Greece among many more. Their travels took them to over 50 countries over a span of 30 years.

During his sunset years Donald was given a tough pill to swallow with the sudden death of his beloved wife on February 25, 2009. He was blessed that his loving daughters stepped in to pick up where Marjorie left off so he would have everything he needed. Donald spent four months with Marla during the winter and four months each with Laura Lynn and Nancy, as well. His thirty year struggle Ataxia required him to spend the last five years of his life in a wheelchair. Despite his limitations, Donald still bagged a deer while in his wheelchair! His emotional therapy dog, Bully, was his constant companion and helpmate during this time.

With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around him, Donald Sanders was an extraordinary man to know and love. He and his wife shared a marriage that most only dream of as they were true companions, best friends, and team mates in every way. Accompanied by his strong work ethic, Donald was a successful businessman who valued his work and the customers he served. Life will never be the same without him here, but his timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow him.

Donald Henry Sanders – born December 7, 1924, passed away February 6, 2014. He is survived by his only brother, Walter Sanders, three daughters, Nancy Lee Williams, Marla Kay Sanders (Ruth Estes) and Laura Lynn DeGraaf (Mark DeGraaf), five grandchildren, Robert Donald¬ Sanders Williams (Jennifer Hamilton), Jennifer Leigh Williams, Mark Steven DeGraaf, Donald John DeGraaf, Danielle DeGraaf (Chuck Malenfant), three great-grandchildren, Robert Logen Williams, Aleeiah Ann Williams and Conner Robert Malenfant; his faithful companion "Bully" as well as many nieces, nephews and good friends. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Margie, who passed away five years ago, his little angel daughter, Mary Beth Sanders, son-in-law, Robert E. Williams, and his sisters, Dorothy, Alice and Marie. He was born and raised in Ludington, Michigan, graduating from Ludington High School in 1942. He studied briefly at Michigan State while selling Fuller Brushes. He served in the Navy during WWII, repairing the planes that fought on the front lines of the Pacific. In 1950, he married the woman that he said he couldn't live with or without. They moved to Grand Rapids, the beginning of their 59 years together. In 1951, he started his career with Levi Strauss & Co.—bringing Levis east of the Mississippi. After 30 years, he retired and spent the next 34 years enjoying the fabulous joy of traveling the world, visiting over 50 countries, with Margie and his children. The service to celebrate Donald’s Life, will be held on Friday, March 14 at 1:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home-2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. in Grand Rapids. Graveside Burial with military honors in Ludington Cemetery in June. Contributions in his memory may be made to Friends of Grand Rapids Veterans Homes. To read more about Donalds life, to leave your own memory of him and to sign his guest book, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com