Donald E. Ballast

Donald E. Ballast completed his earthly walk with the Lord on Sunday morning, January 1, 2017 at the age of 94. Don was born and raised in Grand Rapids.  He attended Franklin Street, Grandville Ave. and Grand Rapids Christian High School where he excelled in tennis and table tennis.  After graduating in 1940 he worked in the office of the Roskam Baking Co.  Don was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served three years in the 13^th Airborne Artillery Division.  He attended the State College in Raleigh, North Carolina for eight months.  While there he made profession of his faith in Jesus Christ in the home of the Rev. John VandeKieft.  He then volunteered for parachute training.  He spent 6 months in France before being discharged.  Don resumed working at Roskam's and also began his courtship with Marge Van Heest whom he met at the Grand Haven beach in 1944.  They were married Nov. 7, 1947.  Don attended Calvin College and received his M.A. Degree in chemical engineering from Michigan State College in 1953.  Don worked for the Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, Michigan for 31 years.  He worked in various departments, received 6 patents and became a division leader of 70 employees.  While in Midland, Don and Marge became charter members of the Midland Reformed Church where Don served his Lord faithfully for 50 years as an elder, deacon, or teacher and as a member of the choir and a men's quartet.  He enjoyed bowling, golfing, pitching for the church softball team and umpiring Little League games.  He served on the Housing Board of appeals for the city of Midland and volunteered for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw for their asbestos assessment program in their schools. In retirement, Don and Marge enjoyed traveling in the U.S., including Hawaii, Canada, Europe and cruises.  They spent 15 winters in Bradenton, Florida and volunteered at the Anchor House, a Christian seaman’s center at Port Manatee. Don was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Ballast; granddaughter, Katie McDonald; son-in-law, Phillip Boltach; and 3 brothers, Laurence, Jay and Harold. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marge Ballast; daughters, Suzanne (Ray) Kazusky, Nancy (Bill) Zeilstra, Beverly (Steve) Selvig; daughter-in-law, Joanne Ballast; nine grandchildren; six great- grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Philip (Phyllis) Van Heest. A Memorial Service for Don will be held on Saturday at 11:00 am at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood with Rev. Paul DeVries officiating. Relatives and friends may meet the family at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30-11 am prior to the service. Interment has taken place at Dutton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to World Renew or Spectrum Hospice.