Donald Hunt

Although seemingly gruff on the outside, Donald O. Hunt tried to give his all for his family. He loved his wife and children, but often felt that nothing was better than the times he enjoyed with his grandchildren. Don was a man who desired little and was quite content in relaxing within the comfort of his own home.

1931 found most of the United States deep in the Great Depression. Many people were without jobs and life was very difficult. However, John Oades Hunt and his wife, Nina (Petty), living in Flint, Michigan, were among the lucky few. John had a job working for Dupont while Nina was a modest homemaker, yet was known to be a short pistol of a woman. The summer of 1931, the couple found themselves anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. On May 4th, Donald Oades made his arrival to the delight of his parents. He was later joined by his little brother, Steve, who completed the Hunt household.

Don attended the Flint Public Schools until the tenth grade, then left to work with his father at his restaurant in town. Like many young men of the time, Don joined the U.S. Army and proudly served in Iceland until his honorable discharge. After the service, Don returned to Flint where he became a self-employed drywall contractor in the area.

In 1966, Don met his future wife, Ruby. She had nine children of her own, but this did not deter Don and a romance soon blossomed. The couple was happily married on April 25, 1973, at Ruby’s daughter’s home in Flint. Soon, they added two sons of their own, John and Andrew, to their already large family. A few years after marrying, Don moved his family to Holland, Michigan, settling in a home at 117 Fairbanks. He found work at Chemetron Corporation (now known as BASF) and remained here until his retirement in 1991. After only three years in Holland, however, Don and Ruby moved to Saugatuck in 1979, to a home at 3432 63rd Street, where they would enjoy retirement life together.

Although described as “a little rough around the edges”, Don had a soft heart, especially when it came to his grandchildren. He liked to pester and poke fun with them, which was his way of letting them know he loved them. Don did not need great things in his life to make him happy. It was the simple things he enjoyed, like fishing, playing rummy with his wife Ruby (and cheating a bit too), having a beer every once in a while or going out to dinner at Ponderosa, where he could bring home a doggy bag for later. Don had developed diabetes later in life, which put some limitations on his activities. Nonetheless, he was perfectly content spending time at home with his beloved Ruby.

A loving father and husband, Don will be greatly missed and frequently remembered by the many people whose lives he touched.

Donald Oades Hunt, age 73, of Saugatuck, MI, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at Holland Community Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Ruby Hunt of Saugatuck; his children: Ronald and Dawn Marsden of Flint, Duane Marsden of Clio, Marlene Gonzalez of Holland, Denise and Herb Villarreal of Clio, Jim and Chris Maupin of Germany, Larry and Marrietta Marsden of Fennville, Linda and Tim Corr of Grand Ledge, John and Cindy Hunt of Allegan, and Andrew and Carla Hunt of Newaygo; 19 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; his brother, Steve and Rose Hunt of Whittmore, MI; brother-in-law, Walter Klemm of Hopkins, MN, his sisters-in-law, Hildegarde Vander Zanden of Green Bay, WI, and Betty Bayer Menasha, WI; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Don will be held on Saturday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. at the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street, Holland, Michigan, with Fr. Corwin Stoppel officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 4, from 7-9 p.m. at the Mulder Chapel. Cremation will take place following the service. Please visit Don’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution in his memory.