Donald Chester Green died on May 14, 2023. He was loved by many and will be missed very much. He was born January 30, 1926, on the kitchen table at his parent's, Orville and Margaret (Dodds) Green's house in Detroit, Michigan. He attended grade school until grade 12 when he went to Pershing High School for one year. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and was sent to the South Pacific on a LTI as Gunner's Mate 3 ^rd Class. He was honorably discharged out of Navy Pier, Chicago, in 1946. He then attended Michigan State University on the GI bill as a reservist in the Army and met the love of his life, Barbara Ann Fick, on a street corner in East Lansing, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Finance. He married Barbara on July 7, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan. They had three children: Jeffrey Donald (Geralyn Ann Tropodi), Susan Elizabeth Green & Rodney (Leslie Margaret Halls); five grandchildren, Julie Sabuda, John Ferry, James (Marcia Powell) Ferry, Nicholas Green, and James Green; and one great-granddaughter, Isabella Sabuda. Barbara died in 2014 and Donald was ready to see her again.

Donald was very active in the community as a member of Elk Rapids Golf Club having served several years in office, the Traverse City Elk's Club, AmVets Local #114, Traverse City Lions…selling raffle tickets for years at the barbecue and he was a member of two churches.

Donald was a role model to many. He was a mentor in Junior Achievement while working for General Motors in Columbus, Ohio. He taught Sunday School and taught all three of his children and grandchildren how to manage money. He was always the first to lend a helping hand.

When Donald graduated from Michigan State University, he went to work at General Motors in Finance where he was transferred several times with Barbara and the children following him around the country. They spent time in Detroit, Michigan, Columbus, Ohio, Yardley, Pennsylvania, and back to Birmingham, Michigan, where he completed 34 years.

Donald thought of his younger life in terms of what car he owned. Crumples was one and then there was the '36 Ford, the one with the rumble seat…he was a good story teller and it was always interesting to listen to him. Barbara said "he was a talker."

Donald and Barbara extensively spent their winters in Stuart, Florida, where they had many friends. They spent one season wintering in the south of France. They took many cruises and usually spent a couple of weeks in Europe each Fall.

Don drove a 2003 red Corvette convertible around Elk Rapids and everybody knew who he was when they saw him in that car. As soon as the temperature hit 65, the top went down and only went up if it rained. The car was a fixture in the parades in the Village for many years.

Donald served on the Honor Guard at the local AmVets Post #114 of Elk Rapids, attending funerals throughout the area.

The last several years of his life, after Barbara's passing, were spent with Susan and her 6-pound Shih Tzu, Tela, who he renamed Peanut. Peanut was his charge or it may have been the other way around. Anyway, they were fast friends and she will miss him very much.

97 years is a long time to live and Donald saw his share, lived a good life, and was a good family man.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:00 AM, Monday, May 22, 2023, at Calvary Lutheran Church, in Elk Rapids, with the Reverend Zachary Nelson officiating. Interment will follow in Milton Township Cemetery with military graveside honors conducted under the auspices of AMVETS Post #114 of Elk Rapids. Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Elk Rapids Chapel, and Monday from 10:00 AM until time of services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the Humane Society.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Elk Rapids, Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com