Donald Dobb

Donald Dobb was a man of great strength of character who carried himself with integrity and pride, pride for his Pottawatomie Indian ancestral roots and pride in the country he valiantly served through the Navy reserves. Don was a man of great faith who valued God first, honor second and country third who had a hard exterior, but was tender and caring on the inside. Don was a loyal friend and could be counted on to be a man of his word and to support others, regardless of the issue at hand and would offer to help in any way that he could. Don possessed a tender and compassionate spirit that encompassed both his every word and his every action. The 1930s were a decade in our nations history that was filled with struggles for many American families as our nation was tightly held within the grip of the Great Depression that began near the close of 1929. Barney and Abbey (Genter) Dobb, of Muskegon, Michigan, were able to shift their focus to a joyous occasion within their own family; as they were expecting the arrival of their child at any time. They were blessed on April 22, 1934 with the healthy birth of their third son Donald. Don, his two older brothers along with his two younger sisters were raised primarily by their mother who stayed at home with them while their father worked as a typesetter for the Muskegon Chronicle. Life took a new and exciting turn for Don one day while he and his friends were horsing around at the beach along the magnificent Lake Michigan shore. A beautiful young woman caught his eye while she was sunbathing and Don took it upon himself to toss her into the waves that were crashing on shore, but unfortunately, this young woman couldnt swim. Lucky for Don, this young woman named Joyce Dault, was willing to look past his antics and a few years later, the couple began to date. Soon, they had fallen madly in love and were married on April 28, 1956. At first, their new lives were a bit of a struggle as there was no work to be found, but Don was resourceful and did any odd job he could find until he was able to get an apprenticeship as an electrician. When he received his journeymans card, accepted contract work that took him back and forth traveling from Muskegon to South Dakota, leaving his wife at home to care for their son Rodney. Being away from his family was tough, as Rod was a baby, however both Joyce and Don knew this was temporary and financially it was the best decision for their family. With Dons budding career, the couple was able to purchase their first home in Muskegon and within a few years he built a new home for his family in just nine short months where they would raise their family. Don was also able to purchase some acreage on Big Blue Lake where he built a cottage for their family and many treasured memories were made. Don was proud to protect his country in the Navy Reserves. His two older brothers Delmar and Harold both served in the Navy from 1941 1945, which influenced his decision to join the Navel Reserves and shaped his love and passion for history, ultimately Don became very knowledgeable on WWII. Don was known for was his strong work ethic and the high standards he set for himself and in his quest to both provide for his family and to continue to better himself, he went on to become a Master Electrician. He then became the owner and operator of both Jones Electric and Hall Electric, in 1977. Family was always a priority for Don and as a father; he balanced his unconditional love with firmness when needed. In addition to working hard, Don knew how to play hard and there were several interests that he enjoyed. Don was a true outdoorsman who loved to hunt for mushrooms and for various birds and animals as well, especially for partridge. He was an avid fisherman initially enjoying to fish for trout and later, primarily for walleye. Don loved hosting gatherings and parties for several holidays where he just enjoyed watching his guests have a great time. Don was a history buff and when he was indoors he enjoyed watching the history channel on television and listening to the sound of bagpipes as well. Don could always be counted on to be the rock in any situation and to help those in need weather the storms that so often surface in life. When his sons wife died, his son was left to care for their young children on his own and both Don and Joyce rose to the occasion to help their son with this most substantial task and aid in the care of the grandchildren they adored. Don shared his passions for hunting and fishing with his grandson Matthew, just as he had with his own son, and he shared his vast intelligence as well. Traveling was one of Dons greatest pleasures and due to his generous nature; he loved to help others travel as well. He and Joyce took their grandchildren on several trips with them and all fondly remembered their trip to Yellowstone. When Rod remarried Nancy, they embraced her and her two children who were also included in the vacation fun, especially when they all traveled to Disney World. Don was truly one of a kind and there are many things that made him so unique. He went to an auction planning on purchasing a clock and instead he came home having purchased a marina located on the channel of Bear Lake, nicknamed Dobbs Marina. He was rather handy, even building two grandfather clocks and although he did not attend a church, he was a man of great faith who knew the Bible inside and out. He was a man of vast determination who survived two open heart surgeries and when diagnosed with non - Hodgkins lymphoma and given six months to live, Don lived over fifteen years after that diagnosis. He treasured the companionship of his dog, Miss Greta and loved his rose garden and fruit farm too. When his health began steadily declining, Don made sure that his family was taken care of; even making sure that both of his grandchildren Matthew and Stacey had homes of their own. Don Dobb was an extraordinary man who viewed each day as a gift, embracing both the peaks and valleys along lifes journey. He shared his zest for life with the family he treasured most and he built a successful business that he passed on to his son. Even more significant than his business, Don passed on a great legacy of integrity, hard-work, and unconditional love that will surely stand the test of time. He will be dearly missed. Donald B. Dobb died Sunday, March 29, 2009. Dons family includes his wife, Joyce of Muskegon; son, Rodney (Nancy) Dobb of Muskegon; grandchildren, Stacy Dobb, Matthew Dobb, step grand children Brittany Linstrom, Theresa Linstrom; sister, Carol (Rudy) Rebar of Grand Haven, Marilyn Davis of Muskegon; Miss Greta, his dog. Preceeding him in death were both of his brothers Delmar and Harold Dobb. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2009, 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon location - Muskegon, MI. Visit with Dons family and friends on Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to the American Cancer Society or the Hospice of your choice.