Obituary for David E. McDonald Sr.
David E. McDonald, Sr, prominent
Ironwood attorney, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Monday, September
20, 2010. His family takes great comfort that he is now reunited with his
beloved wife, Florence, who preceded him in death by 13 days.
David was born December 21, 1928 in Ironwood, son of
the late Angus John and Marian (Bedford) McDonald. He was a
graduate of both L.L. Wright High School, class of 1946 and Ironwood
Junior College (GCC) in 1948. He then graduated from the University
of Michigan in 1950 and Detroit College of Law in 1955. He was President
of his law school graduating class.
After graduation, David returned to Ironwood,
where he began his law practice with Ivan Wright, later Charles M. Humphrey Jr,
and for the majority of his legal career as a partner with Santini,
Jacobs, McDonald and Silc (now Jacobs, McDonald and Silc). He retired in 1995,
but continued as Of Counsel until his death. He was a member of state and
federal courts of Michigan in excess of 50 years. He was a member of the
Gogebic-Ontonagon Bar, (former president), the Michigan Bar Association and the
American Bar Association. He was a Hearing Panelist for the
Michigan Attorney Grievance Board for over 50 years. David was also a former
United States Commissioner for the Western District, Northern Division of the
United States District Court. In addition, he served as the Ironwood City
Attorney for 31 years and was a former Gogebic County Prosecuting Attorney and
Friend of the Court.
He was also a former director of MFC First National
Bank of Ironwood, Kodiak Corporation, Ironwood Area Catholic School Board,
Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, Ironwood Carnegie Library, Big Powderhorn Lodging
Association, and a member of the Ironwood Police and Fire Civil Service
Commission. He was associated with Keweenaw Land Association Ltd. for
over 30 years, as legal counsel, and Director since 1988, retiring in August
2010. He was also president and director of Gogebic Organization for an Industrially
New County (GO, Inc.).
David was extensively involved in civic and church
activities. He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church,
and served on the parish finance and council boards, and as a
Befriender. He served as a board member of Catholic Social Services for
Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties. He was a member of the Ironwood Knights
of Columbus, Ironwood-Hurley Rotary Club (former president, director and a Paul
Harris Fellow recipient), Ironwood Elks Lodge and was most recently an
active supporter of Grand View Hospital’s Caregiver’s Support Group.
David was an adjunct instructor for 12 years in
the GCC paralegal program. He was active as a board member and/or
facilitating activities and fund raising for the first Grand View Clinic, the O’Donnell
Civic Center, Historic Ironwood Theater restoration, the St. Joseph addition to
Our Lady of Peace Church, Boy Scouts, and the Gogebic Council for the
Arts. David was named “ Man of the Year” for the Ironwood Chamber of
Commerce in 1973.
As esteemed as David was in his legal and civic endeavors,
his children can attest to his love and enthusiasm for life in general and family
specifically. His wife, children and grandchildren were the center of his
life, and he enjoyed attending their many activities. Dave was a kind, caring and gentle husband
and father, and a devoted caregiver to his loving wife. Dave also had a keen
sense of humor and adventure. He enjoyed traveling with his wife,
visiting with friends and family throughout the country. He had a
fondness for animals, and especially enjoyed his childhood dog Jack and the
family dog, Perky. David was a loyal fan of the U of M Wolverines and the
Detroit Lions.
On June 28, 1952, David married Florence E.
McDonell of Montreal, WI. She preceded him in death on September 7,
2010. Together they raised eight children, David E. (Georgia) McDonald,
Jr, Mimi (George) Kuklenski, Mark McDonald (Sallie Holtz), and Megan (Tim)
Kolesar, all of Ironwood, Patty (Dan) VanderVelden of Kimberly, WI, Mary (Tom) Simpson
of Charlotte, NC, Jeanie (Tod) Lewis of Shawano, WI and Jon (Megan) McDonald of
Oakland, CA; 18 grandchildren, Tripp (Stephanie) and Drew McDonald, Kelly
(Brian) Paul, Scott and Jennifer Kuklenski, Bridgette and Aaron Holtz, Tim and
Maighlin Kolesar, Danielle and Brecken VanderVelden, Elizabeth, Alec and Claire
Simpson, Erik, Ian and Addison Lewis, and Owen McDonald; two
great-grandchildren, Alec and Jenna Paul; four sisters-in-law, Shirley
McDonald, Virginia Doyle, Miriam Conley and Eleanore McDonell; his cousin Grace
Landstrom and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death
by his sister, Elizabeth Boyle; two brothers, Angus John McDonald, William B McDonald;
sister-in-law, Geraldine McDonald; four brothers-in-law, Joseph Boyle, Dr.
Timothy McDonell, Edward Conley and George Doyle; special aunt, Naomi Parkins
and nephews, Timothy Conley and Brian Doyle.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon on
Saturday, Sept. 25, in the St. Joseph Family Room at Our Lady of Peace Church,
followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon. The Rev. Darryl J. Pepin will
be the celebrant, with the Rev. Msgr. Jed Patrick, con-celebrant.
Luncheon will follow in the parish hall.
Rite of Committal and private interment will be in St.
Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.
Pallbearers will be David's grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Florence and David McDonald Sr. Nursing Scholarship Fund, c/o Gogebic Community
College Foundation, E4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI 49938, or the
Historic Ironwood Theater, 107 E Aurora Street, Ironwood, MI 49938.
To view David's obituary online, sign the guestbook
and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral
Home Inc., Ironwood.
David will be deeply missed. He led by example
and gained the trust and respect of all who knew him. His family would
like to extend their appreciation and heartfelt thanks for the compassionate
care and love shown to David by Caring Caregivers and Caring Home Health.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND
Ironwood attorney, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Monday, September
20, 2010. His family takes great comfort that he is now reunited with his
beloved wife, Florence, who preceded him in death by 13 days.
David was born December 21, 1928 in Ironwood, son of
the late Angus John and Marian (Bedford) McDonald. He was a
graduate of both L.L. Wright High School, class of 1946 and Ironwood
Junior College (GCC) in 1948. He then graduated from the University
of Michigan in 1950 and Detroit College of Law in 1955. He was President
of his law school graduating class.
After graduation, David returned to Ironwood,
where he began his law practice with Ivan Wright, later Charles M. Humphrey Jr,
and for the majority of his legal career as a partner with Santini,
Jacobs, McDonald and Silc (now Jacobs, McDonald and Silc). He retired in 1995,
but continued as Of Counsel until his death. He was a member of state and
federal courts of Michigan in excess of 50 years. He was a member of the
Gogebic-Ontonagon Bar, (former president), the Michigan Bar Association and the
American Bar Association. He was a Hearing Panelist for the
Michigan Attorney Grievance Board for over 50 years. David was also a former
United States Commissioner for the Western District, Northern Division of the
United States District Court. In addition, he served as the Ironwood City
Attorney for 31 years and was a former Gogebic County Prosecuting Attorney and
Friend of the Court.
He was also a former director of MFC First National
Bank of Ironwood, Kodiak Corporation, Ironwood Area Catholic School Board,
Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, Ironwood Carnegie Library, Big Powderhorn Lodging
Association, and a member of the Ironwood Police and Fire Civil Service
Commission. He was associated with Keweenaw Land Association Ltd. for
over 30 years, as legal counsel, and Director since 1988, retiring in August
2010. He was also president and director of Gogebic Organization for an Industrially
New County (GO, Inc.).
David was extensively involved in civic and church
activities. He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church,
and served on the parish finance and council boards, and as a
Befriender. He served as a board member of Catholic Social Services for
Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties. He was a member of the Ironwood Knights
of Columbus, Ironwood-Hurley Rotary Club (former president, director and a Paul
Harris Fellow recipient), Ironwood Elks Lodge and was most recently an
active supporter of Grand View Hospital’s Caregiver’s Support Group.
David was an adjunct instructor for 12 years in
the GCC paralegal program. He was active as a board member and/or
facilitating activities and fund raising for the first Grand View Clinic, the O’Donnell
Civic Center, Historic Ironwood Theater restoration, the St. Joseph addition to
Our Lady of Peace Church, Boy Scouts, and the Gogebic Council for the
Arts. David was named “ Man of the Year” for the Ironwood Chamber of
Commerce in 1973.
As esteemed as David was in his legal and civic endeavors,
his children can attest to his love and enthusiasm for life in general and family
specifically. His wife, children and grandchildren were the center of his
life, and he enjoyed attending their many activities. Dave was a kind, caring and gentle husband
and father, and a devoted caregiver to his loving wife. Dave also had a keen
sense of humor and adventure. He enjoyed traveling with his wife,
visiting with friends and family throughout the country. He had a
fondness for animals, and especially enjoyed his childhood dog Jack and the
family dog, Perky. David was a loyal fan of the U of M Wolverines and the
Detroit Lions.
On June 28, 1952, David married Florence E.
McDonell of Montreal, WI. She preceded him in death on September 7,
2010. Together they raised eight children, David E. (Georgia) McDonald,
Jr, Mimi (George) Kuklenski, Mark McDonald (Sallie Holtz), and Megan (Tim)
Kolesar, all of Ironwood, Patty (Dan) VanderVelden of Kimberly, WI, Mary (Tom) Simpson
of Charlotte, NC, Jeanie (Tod) Lewis of Shawano, WI and Jon (Megan) McDonald of
Oakland, CA; 18 grandchildren, Tripp (Stephanie) and Drew McDonald, Kelly
(Brian) Paul, Scott and Jennifer Kuklenski, Bridgette and Aaron Holtz, Tim and
Maighlin Kolesar, Danielle and Brecken VanderVelden, Elizabeth, Alec and Claire
Simpson, Erik, Ian and Addison Lewis, and Owen McDonald; two
great-grandchildren, Alec and Jenna Paul; four sisters-in-law, Shirley
McDonald, Virginia Doyle, Miriam Conley and Eleanore McDonell; his cousin Grace
Landstrom and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death
by his sister, Elizabeth Boyle; two brothers, Angus John McDonald, William B McDonald;
sister-in-law, Geraldine McDonald; four brothers-in-law, Joseph Boyle, Dr.
Timothy McDonell, Edward Conley and George Doyle; special aunt, Naomi Parkins
and nephews, Timothy Conley and Brian Doyle.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon on
Saturday, Sept. 25, in the St. Joseph Family Room at Our Lady of Peace Church,
followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon. The Rev. Darryl J. Pepin will
be the celebrant, with the Rev. Msgr. Jed Patrick, con-celebrant.
Luncheon will follow in the parish hall.
Rite of Committal and private interment will be in St.
Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.
Pallbearers will be David's grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Florence and David McDonald Sr. Nursing Scholarship Fund, c/o Gogebic Community
College Foundation, E4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI 49938, or the
Historic Ironwood Theater, 107 E Aurora Street, Ironwood, MI 49938.
To view David's obituary online, sign the guestbook
and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral
Home Inc., Ironwood.
David will be deeply missed. He led by example
and gained the trust and respect of all who knew him. His family would
like to extend their appreciation and heartfelt thanks for the compassionate
care and love shown to David by Caring Caregivers and Caring Home Health.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND