Donald Reister

Donald Raymond Reister, age 81, of Allendale, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 23, 2019, and went into the loving arms of his Savior. He was a life-long U of M and GVSU Lakers fan and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, never missing one of their events. He also enjoyed time spent hunting with his brother and son, reading, and getting outside. Donald proudly served in the US Army and after 32 years retired from Plant Services at GVSU. He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life, Beatrice. Donald will be lovingly remembered by his children, Mark and Jeannette Reister, Charles and Melissa Reister, Bridget and Kelly Herb, Dominic and Brandy Reister; 13 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; brothers, Russ and Dorothy Reister, John Reister; sister, Marjorie Skibbe; sisters-in-law, Josephine Rhame, Aurora and Joseph Kaiser; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special neighbors. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 28, 11:00 am at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1481 Baldwin St, Jenison, with Pastor Brian West officiating. Interment Allendale Township Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Thursday from 5-8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf (Allendale), 6651 Scott St., 49401, and on Friday from 10-10:45 am prior to the service at church. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Reister Family Memorial Scholarship fund at GVSU.

Leave Your Tribute Message

July 02, 2019

My dear friend Mark!!! I cannot even begin to tell you how so sorry I am about the loss of your dad!! I can only imagine how deeply grieved you are. I have been praying for you and your family and I will continue to do so! Love and hugs to you!

- Shari Simpson

June 26, 2019

Don Reister was my friend. We knew one another from the time we could walk. Born a day apart, we grew up within shouting distance and spent hours together playing sports in vacant lots, front yards driveways and on the frozen icy streets where we lived. As we grew older we hunted together. We stayed in touch over the years and I’ll deeply miss our long distance conversations, updating our lives and reliving our childhood memories together. I will always admire and respect Don’s resilience and inner strength in his dealings with the loss of his beloved Bea and with his unfortunate health issues. He was always humble and always upbeat! So it came as a shock to receive the call of my friend’s untimely death. May family and friends turn to their faith that Don is in a good place now. Rest in peace my friend. You’ll never be forgotten.

- Bill Force

June 26, 2019

So sorry for you loss. Don was such a nice man who always had a smile on his face. Peace be with you all during this difficult time, he will be missed. Sincerely, Kim Schmidt

- Kim Schmidt

June 25, 2019

Mark and the Reister family - I am so sorry for the loss of your dear father (and grandfather). I am praying that you will be surrounded by comfort as you go through this difficult time of grief.

- Bonnie Doyle

June 25, 2019

Our family hearts are so heavy with the sudden loss of Don, a wonderful and godly man. We have been abundantly blessed with not just a great neighbor, but a friend. Don was a part of our family, a brother in Christ. We miss him immensely. We will continue to lift up the entire Reister family in prayer of comfort, peace and healing in this time of deep sorrow. Henry, Lisa, Jared (Dykstra) and Madeline Pols.

- Henry and Lisa Pols

June 24, 2019

What a nice and very happy man. Will miss chatting with him - thoughts and prayers

- James