Donald A. Forrester

Donald Alan Forrester has gone home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at the age of 89. Don was the youngest child of Merle Morden Forrester and Florence Wylie Forrester, of Deckerville. His father was the owner of Forrester's Department Store in downtown Deckerville. He was cheerful and mischievous (or "impudent," his Aunt Marian would say), both at home and in town, having adventures and making friends he remembered fondly all his life. The family spent summers at a cottage in Sanilac County Park, where Don learned the ways of the lake, and always went to bed with sand in his sheets, the sound of the waves lapping the shore. It was at the cottage where Don met Violet Macdonald, when his brother Homer brought her home for dinner, expressly to meet Don. The two married in June 1953. Shortly before their wedding, Don's father died, so Don cut short his education at Western Michigan University to run the family business. Don and Vi settled in Deckerville, where they worked together in the store. Soon the children started coming: Sally in 1956, Scott (dec) in 1958, and Tracy in 1960. When Scott died at the age of fifteen months, Don began to take life more seriously. One evening, he went forward and dedicated his life to Christ at the pavilion at Sanilac County Park. The family attended the Deckerville Bible Church, and still maintain ties there today. During these years, Don explored flying planes with a group of friends. In 1963, Don sold the store to his sister Eleanor, and followed his brother Homer to Arizona. Not finding exactly what he wanted there, and missing family, Don and Vi and the girls moved back to Michigan. Don found a job selling life insurance in Grosse Pointe. Don became a board member of Good News Camp in Gladwin. He loved the mission of bringing kids to the Lord at camp. In fact, he loved it so much that in 1973, he joined Spring Hill Camps in Evart, as full-time Director of Development. Those were some of the best years of his adult life, as he grew spiritually, and the whole family got involved in the work of the camp. Don enjoyed many long-lasting relationships with other camp staff. In 1978, Don and Vi moved to Mount Clemens, and Don founded Lakeside Financial Planners, which he ran out of his home until he retired in 1995. They had purchased a cottage on Lake Huron from Don's brother George, and after retirement, they winterized it and moved there year-round. This turned out to be a wonderful move for the whole family, as their grandchildren loved spending time with Grammy and Bompa at the cottage, with boating, campfires, fishing, swimming, and many good meals around the picnic table. After Vi died in 2018, Don was lonely. He reconnected with Marian Lenk Manchester, the sister of a childhood friend, and in November 2019, they committed themselves to one another. During the years of the pandemic, they enjoyed their new life together, with lots of games and western movies. They shared stories of their lives, often when they couldn't sleep at night, over bowls of cereal. In April of this year, Don had a stroke, the day after he met his first great grandchild, Violet. The stroke has caused a shutting-down of his body, toward the reawakening of his soul in Heaven. Don was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Violet, his son Scott, his parents, Merle and Florence (Wyllie) Forrester, his siblings George (Edwinna) Forrester, Homer Forrester (Bernie), Josephine (Maurice) Pontine, and Eleanor (Mack) Boice. He is survived by daughters Sally (Andrew) Rich, Tracy (Caleb) Godoy Forrester, grandchildren Sarah (David), Joseph (Effie), Rebekah, and Jon Rich, and Benjamin, Aaron and Oliver Godoy-Forrester, and one great granddaughter, Violet Wiegner. Many beloved nieces and nephews will also mourn his passing. He is also survived by Marian Lenk Manchester and her children, whom he has come to love: Marla (Tom) Sinchak, Wendy (Charles) Harder, and Wayne (Claudine) Manchester. Funeral services to celebrate the life of Donald A. Forrester will be held Friday September 2, 2022 at 11:00 Am in the Deckerville Bible Church. Rev. Dan Packer will officiate. Burial will be in Downing Cemetery. Preferred Memorials are to Spring Hill Camps, 7717 95th Ave, Evart, MI 49631 or to the Deckerville Bible Church, 3025 North Ruth Rd., Deckerville, MI 48427 Condolences may be sent on-line to apseyfuneralhome.net Cemetery Details Downing Cemetery 3151 Rangeline Rd Deckerville, MI 48427 Loading map Previous Events Visitation SEP 2. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (ET) Deckerville Bible Church 3025 Ruth Rd. Deckerville, MI 48427 Loading map Funeral Service SEP 2. 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM (ET) Deckerville Bible Church 3025 Ruth Rd. Deckerville, MI 48427 Loading map