Donald Sund

Donald Uecker Sund, 91, born on January 18, 1932, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully after a valiant fight with cancer, on November 15, 2023. He was preceded in death by his beautiful wife Frances. Don told Fran in high school that he was going to marry her. She said no but obviously she changed her mind. They were married for 66 years and had four children: Peggy (Chuck) Covello, Gary Sund, Steven Sund, and Linda Sund. The family grew with Gina, Jason (Jessie), Jay, Rick, Jessica (Bill) Nick (Sharon), Jill (fiancé Daniel), Donald (Sarah), Clara, Hannah, and ten great grandchildren. He started his life being born at home and weighing only two pounds. He told all of his children that his bed was a shoebox placed inside a pulled out dresser drawer. This somehow shaped his life and he was known to be a strong-willed person. He liked the song “My Way” and yes, Don “did it his way”. He was known for opinions on politics, and you name the topic and Don had an opinion about it. He had the gift to gab. Don built the home he lived in, with his father-in-law Orrie, at the age of 24. He was so proud of this and for his entire life he would reminisce about building the family home. He loved watching the Tigers and he verbally fired many Tiger coaches over the years as an armchair coach. He was a catcher for Union High School and graduated in 1950. He knew the game of baseball and watched the Tigers regularly. He didn’t like seeing baseball players with long hair or beards. He wasn’t a person that liked change and he showed this by wearing his favorite button down sweaters; the gray one, the other gray one, the tan one and the other tan one. He taught his children and grandchildren many things and we hold these memories near and dear to us. We are full of dad stories and grandpa stories. His family will miss him dearly but will keep his memories alive because he showed us such love and affection and shared his opinions too. A special thank you to Faith Hospice for their excellent care and compassion with Don. Thank you to family friend Debbie for her love, support and expertise with Don’s needs at the end of his life journey. Don’s family will hold a celebration of his life with immediate family on Monday. To share a memory or to sign his guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com