Age 96 of Horton, Michigan, passed peacefully on November 19, 2019 at McLean Health Center, Simsbury, Connecticut. Born May 18, 1923, Don lived most of his life in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated Jackson High School in 1942 and worked briefly for the Hinckley-Myers Div. of Kent-Moore Organization, before enlisting in the United States Air Corps (1943) to serve during World War II. Don was a Sergeant Tech IV radar operator and technician, serving in the Pacific Theater (Hawaii, Okinawa, and Guam) before his discharge in 1946. Don married the love of his life, Dorothy Patton, at Fort Dix, NJ, January, 1945. They remained best friends and dearest loves until her death in 2012. Don worked for 30 years at Clark Equipment Company, Michigan Center, MI as an industrial engineer. He and Dorothy retired at Farwell Lake in Horton, Michigan and spent 30 glorious winters in Horseshoe Cove, Bradenton, Florida. Don loved to imagine and create toys, furniture, boats, mini-bikes, and musical instruments. He not only built musical instruments, he played the dulcimers and taught others to build and play them. He was artistic and enjoyed water color painting. He also built four homes, three were on Round and Farwell Lakes in Horton. Don loved to sing and often spontaneously serenaded the staff at McLean. He made friends easily, gave of himself and his talents generously, and loved his family deeply. He lived his life with hope and a positive attitude. All who knew him will miss him greatly. His daughter is happy knowing he is reunited with his cherished Dorothy, and most of his beloved family. Don is survived by his sister, Shirley Fairley (Elwood), daughter, Nancy Fields (Howard), daughter-in-law, Michaela Gebhardt and grandchildren Kathleen Fields, Christopher Gebhardt (Joy), and Joseph Gebhardt (Amanda), two great-grand daughters Jordan and Katelyn Gebhardt and several step great-grandchildren, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his wife of 67 years Dorothy, infant son Gary, and son Mark. Don’s parents Vera (Radabaugh) and Vern Gebhardt, and siblings Beverly Jennings Mangine (Paul, Dominic), Joyce Smith (Fred), Leonard Gebhardt (Roberta) and Marilyn Desmond (Wayne) also preceded him. Services will be at Chas. J. Burden & Son Funeral Home, 1806 E Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI: Viewing Dec. 12, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral service Dec. 13, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Burial Hillcrest Cemetery, with Military Honors. Donations can be made to the East Granby Veterans, 34 Sanford Ridge, East Granby, CT, 06026 or McLean Development Office, Attn: McLean Auxiliary, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT 06070.
Chas. J. Burden & Son Funeral Home
1806 E. Michigan Ave.
Jackson, Michigan 49202
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