Stone, Donn Edward

STONE:  Donn Edward Stone Sr., age 89, a long time resident of Grosse Ile, Mi., and Marco Island and Venice Fl. died July 3, 2011 at Munson Medical Center Hospital in Traverse City Michigan.  Mr. Stone was born on July 12, 1921 in Warren Ohio, the second son of James and Berenice Stone.  He moved to Michigan as a teenager, graduated from Detroit Cooley High School, married his beloved wife, Phyllis Schick, in 1942 and settled in Grosse Ile, Mi. with Phyllis and their son, Donn, after serving in the Army Air Corps as a supply officer in World War II.  The family maintained a home in Grosse Ile until 1996 when Donn and Phyllis moved to Venice, Florida full time.  Mr. Stone worked in the industrial diamond business for approximately 40 years rising from mail clerk to the presidency of JK Smit & Sons of Michigan, an industrial diamond tool maker and supplier to the auto industry.  In 1964, he was elected president of the Industrial Diamond Association of America, the oldest and most prestigious association in his industry.  Mr. Stone was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish on Grosse Ile and played an active role in raising funds for the construction of a school addition and new church.  Mr. and Mrs. Stone renewed their vows in the parish chapel in 1992 to celebrate their 50th anniversary.  Mr. Stone was also a leader in his local community where he served as president of the local Rotary and as a police commissioner.  In his spare time beginning in 1959, Mr. Stone and his long time business associate, Everett Hedke, built Humbug Marina in Gibralter, Michigan from a marshland they purchased near the mouth of the Detroit River.  Together, they built the marina into one of the largest in the downriver area.  Toward the end of his business career, Mr. Stone was elected to the Board of Directors of Heritage Federal Savings Bank in Taylor, Michigan where he served until 1993.  Mr. Stone was an avid boater, outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman.  His exploits included deer and duck hunting in Michigan and Canada, elk hunting in Wyoming and sheep and caribou hunting in Alaska.  He spent countless hours fishing in the Great Lakes and tributaries, the Gulf of Mexico and the rivers and streams of Alaska.  He taught Phyllis, all of his children and most of his grandchildren to hunt and/or fish.  As a young man, Mr. Stone was a successful amateur motor boat racer until his family responsibilities caused him to retire.  He loved to play bridge and was expert in many card games which he shared with the family.  He became an avid golfer, a sport he enjoyed in Michigan and Florida well into his 80’s, even as he was losing his sight to macular degeneration.  In the mid 1970’s, Mr. Stone joined the Durkee Lakes Hunting and Fishing Club near Fairview, Michigan where he hunted and fished with family and friends for over a quarter century. Mr. Stone also enjoyed gardening. He was particularly proud of his tomatoes (with good cause), both in Michigan and in Florida.  In his latter years in Venice, he spent much of his time maintaining a lovely variety of flowering plants outside his home.  In his retirement he unveiled his writing abilities, when, as the “Old Codger” he wrote a series of articles based on his life experiences in the woods, on the water and life in general for the Lake Country Gazette, a paper published by his son, Mark in Elk Rapids, Mi.  His articles revealed his great sense of humor, contained a positive message and are treasured by his family.  Mr. Stone is survived by his wife of 68 years, Phyllis, and his children, Donn Jr., Timothy, Julia Noble, Kathryn Piersma, Elizabeth Hendricks, Mark and Matthew; his grandchildren, Paul, Sarah Elbow, Stacy Jakobe, David, Jonathan Arnold, Kate Hendricks, Nora, Emma, Hannah, Xavier, Casimir, Abraham and Donnovan; and his great grandchildren, Bella, Jackson, Eva, Izzy and Isaiah; his sister, Phoebe Nelson; his children’s spouses, Anne, Ron Noble, Durk Piersma, John Hendricks, Eniko and Erin; and his grandchildren’s spouses, Rachael, Ben Elbow, Neill Jakobe and Stephanie Arnold.  He was predeceased by his brother, James Stone.  A visitation will be held 1-2pm Saturday, July 16 at St Pius X Parish, 3937 Wilson Ave. SW Grandville, MI  followed by a Funeral Mass at 2:00pm.  Attendees are invited to join the family for sandwiches and refreshments at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home at 4145 Chicago Dr. SW Grandville MI following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to make a donation to The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, 70 West 36th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10018.

We will remember Donn, Dad, Grandpa as an accomplished man

who was well liked and admired by virtually everyone who knew him.