Donald Lewis Jr.

Donald Lewis Jr. departed this earthly life peacefully on June 14, 2017 while in the ICU at Spectrum Health Meijer Heart Center. He was born on April 27, 1978 in Chicago, IL to the parents of Donald Sr. and the late Delphia Lewis. Don was a graduate of Simeon Vocational High School class of 1996. While attending Simeon, he was an athlete and participated in the sports of wrestling and football during his tenure and would forever call his teammates “family”. Upon graduation, Don decided to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Navy. After leaving the Navy, he continued to serve his country as a civilian and took a job working in Iraq. He had the honor and privilege of traveling the world and making friends for life. Don invested his time serving the Grand Rapids football community by being a passionate mentor, coach, role-model and friend. He loved all sports but had a strong passion for the game of football. He started the first Grand Rapids Pee Wee League serving football athletes as young as five years old. He was the Director of the Grand Rapids Pirates Football Team as well as the Director of Youth Operations for the North Park Pirates Organization. He recently expanded his coaching and mentoring to the Grand Rapids Thunder Football Team. He also dedicated his time umpiring both baseball and softball within the Northview School District. He dedicated his time to each of these organizations with love, enthusiasm and commitment. Don is survived by his father Donald Lewis Sr.; his wife, LeToya Lewis; son, Dayon M. Lewis; daughter, Daya J. Lewis; sister, Tarina M. Johnson; brothers, Donyel Lewis and Will Galloway; niece, Shieanne Woods; nephews, Josiah Johnson, JonQuille Johnson, Eligah Bonds and Brandon Lewis; and godmother, Linda Walker. Don was also a father figure to Quinten Sampson and Demetrius Johnson, the brothers of Dayon Lewis. He also leaves behind to cherish his memories a host of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Services will be held at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home located at 4646 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Kentwood, MI  49508. Visitation will be Friday, June 23 from 4-7 pm. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 24 at 11 am. Memorial donations may be made to the Don Lewis Jr. Scholarship Foundation.