Don Richard “Donny” Deeren, Jr., 53, of Sherwood, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at his home under hospice.
Per his wishes, Donny has been cremated. A celebration of his life will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Crossroads Bible Church, 1144 Dunks Road, Sherwood, with Pastor Trent Hammond officiating. Interment will follow at Sherwood Township Cemetery.
A visitation will be held just prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m.., also at the church.
Donny was born April 10, 1970, in Sturgis, Michigan to Don Richard and Royce Ann (VanDam) Deeren, Sr. He grew up in Sherwood and lived there all of his life. Donny graduated from Union City High School in 1988.
He earned a corrections certificate through Glen Oaks Community College and worked for several years in security at Community Health Center of Branch County. He was also employed for nine years at MPC in Coldwater, 15 years at Ralston in Battle Creek, and worked at Kellogg’s in Battle Creek from 2019 until his retirement.
Donny was married for a very short time to Lori Bond, and for 23 years to the former Sheila Ottinger. On May 6, 2016, he married the former Nadine Mongan in Leonidas, Michigan. She survives.
Apart from work, Donny was an avid and meticulous gardener who never had to thin his corn. He enjoyed canning, hunting, fishing and attending concerts. He took pride in trying to be self-sufficient and liked to help people. His family, friends and community meant everything to Donny.
For 24 years, he served on the Sherwood Village Council, of which he was a former president. He was a volunteer firefighter on the Sherwood Township Fire Department for 23 years. More recently, Donny was a volunteer for the Union City Alumni Association and was on the board of the Union City Alumni Scholarship Foundation. He was a member of the Union City Society for Historical Preservation and enjoyed helping with their special events.
Donny belonged to Crossroads Bible Church, where he was involved in the Promise Keepers group. He was a loving father and grandfather.
In addition to his wife, Nadine, Donny is survived by his children: Katherine Woodward of Sherwood, Haley (Joe) Bosch of Firestone, Colorado, Christina (Jesse) Stokes of Athens, Kyle (Annette) Deeren of Bronson, Alissa Wilbur of Bronson, Alexzandar Wikkerink of Virginia, Kathryn (Christopher) Blankenship of Sherwood and Nikolias Standish of Hartland; 14 grand-children, Tristan, Lailah, Carson, Ashlin, Mckayla, Mason, Abigail, Lucas, Violette, Winston, Ellie, Xavier, Emelia, and Sophia; his sister, Joy Deeren of Tekonsha; aunts and uncles, Bill (Judy) Deeren of Sherwood, Bob (Janet) VanDam of Colon, Verna (Dave) Hall of Colon, and Karin VanDam of Shipshewana, IN; nephews and niece, James Zongker of Three Rivers, Jody Zongker and Tabitha Deeren of Sherwood; best friend who was like a brother, Jim (Kim) Farst of Sherwood; and close friend, Kerry Smith of Union City.
Donny was preceded in death by his grandparents and his parents (2022); and his uncle, Roger VanDam.
Memorial donations are suggested to Crossroads Bible Church, 1144 Dunks Road, Sherwood, MI 49089; or to the Union City Society for Historic Preservation, 210 Charlotte Street, Union City, MI 49094.
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