Douglas Lesinski

Doug Lesinski was a man who worked hard, played hard, and most of all, laughed hard, every day of his life. He was the kind of guy who never had to look far for love and laughter; they seemed to follow him everywhere he went. Doug was a loyal and loving son, brother, uncle, father and friend, but more than anything, he was a man who enjoyed every second of his life, and helped us enjoy every second we shared with him.

Doug’s story began on a cool spring day in 1957, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. That was a year that changed America forever, when the Frisbee was invented, the Cold War continued, the Space Race began, and racial tensions heightened here at home. On March 31, 1957, James and Virginia (Fishbeck) Lesinski found reason for hope, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Doug.

Doug was one of six children in the family home, joining his siblings Greg, Gordon, David, Mary Gay and Wade. His father worked hard as a diesel mechanic to provide for the family, while his mother was an elementary school teacher in addition to caring for the family.

Being from a faithful Catholic family, Doug attended Holy Spirit School as a boy, and later West Catholic High School. But it was clear that’s Doug’s real love was for the Great Outdoors, and not cooped up inside with his studies and schoolbooks. From a young age, Doug loved hunting, fishing, and camping, and was fascinated by motorcycles, all of which became lifelong passions.

After he graduated from West Catholic in 1975, Doug found work at Steelcase, a good job working for a good company, where he would remain the rest of his career. Doug naturally made a lot of friends there with his quick wit and fun-loving demeanor, and the job provided him with everything he needed to keep his many hobbies going. Like so many of us, Doug’s professional life was simply the fuel for his personal life, a personal life that was so full and rewarding for him.

When Doug was a young man, he became a proud father, to a wonderful son named Cody. Doug adored his little boy, but sadly, Cody died just before his fifth birthday, a loss Doug carried with him the rest of his life. Doug got through it by focusing on the many things that brought him happiness, and the people he loved being near.

Doug’s passion for motorcycles peaked when he bought his prized, 1978 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead bike, one of the truly great touring bikes ever made. He took his Harley everywhere, heading off down the road on long trips with his large group of friends who shared Doug’s passion for riding. The only thing Doug loved more than having a good time, was having a good time with others who were, too. Doug was an incredibly social man, a real practical jokester with a great sense of humor. He was the one cranking up the Led Zeppelin at the family gatherings at the lake, and happy when everyone was having fun.

Of course, Doug also had a quieter side, too, and was as comfortable in the middle of the woods as he was in the center of attention. He continued his lifelong love of hunting, fishing and camping, and broadened his love of nature to mushroom-hunting, bird watching, and even beekeeping! Doug enjoyed making his own honey, probably because the wheeler-dealer in him wouldn’t let him pay full price for anything! To Doug, it was always more fun, always better to barter.

That’s just the way Doug was, one of the many traits that made him so beloved and fun loving. He could be stubborn, sure, and thought he was more of a ladies’ man than he probably was, and he could even be a bit gullible, too. But underneath it all, Doug was a good man, a man with a ready ear and a huge heart for those around him.

Doug was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, when the doctors gave him less than a year to live. They obviously didn’t know Doug very well. He had too much life left to live, too much fun to be had, and soon that year he was given became two, then four, and then 12. He was amazingly declared cancer-free.

Sadly, Doug died suddenly on August 21, 2007, at his Grand Haven home, at the age of 50.

Doug will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his parents, Jim and Virginia Lesinski, his brothers, Gregory and wife Diane, Gordon, David and wife Kly, Wade and Heather and his sister Mary Gay and her husband Ken Medendorp. Doug loved and adored his nieces and nephews, Nick, Amy, Becca, Holly, Doug, Kelsey, Rachel and Jake and great nephews Dean and Jadon. Doug loved to hunt and fish. Memories of his keen wit and sense of humor will help in coping with our loss. For those who knew him, may your favorite memory of him help warm your hearts today and in the days to come. A service in celebration of Doug’s life will be held Saturday at 11AM Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes- Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids with time to greet the family on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9PM. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 400 Ann NW, Suite 202, 49504 To read Doug’s lifestory, make a memorial contribution or sign the online guestbook, please visit www.lifestorynet.com