*Don was my brother-in-law. He married my oldest sister, Marie. They had four children: Kathleen, Brian, Michael, and Nancy. There are now seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.*
Donald Lyle Witbeck was born in Evart, Michigan, on July 24, 1930. Due to complications, Don's mother died six weeks after his birth. His father felt he could not care for a newborn and asked his wife's parents to care for him. Don was raised by his loving grandparents, and they legally adopted him when he was in the 12th grade. He graduated from Evart High School in 1949.
Don had two wonderful brothers, Marvin and Robert. Even though they were really his uncles, they treated him as their loving little brother. Marve and Bob both owned stores in Clare, Michigan, and Marve also owned another Witbeck's IGA (Independent Grocers' Association) in Reed City, where Don worked after completing high school. It just so happened that grocery store was right across the street from the Mackinaw Trail Restaurant where Marie worked as a waitress. Don also drove a maroon colored convertible, so after they started dating, he would take Marie's little sisters for rides in that convertible on Sunday afternoons, and we all fell in love with him!
After Marie graduated from high school in 1953, she had planned to go to St. Mary's in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to become an RN nurse. However, back in those days you could not be married and attend St. Mary's. So, she opted for the one year LPN nursing program at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, Michigan, instead. She and Don were then married on May 15, 1954. After their four children were born and all in school, Marie did go back to Ferris State University in Big Rapids and get her RN and an Associate Degree in Nursing.
Don's dream was to own his own grocery store like his brothers did. However, money was scarce. After the birth of their third child in 1958, Don, on a whim, entered the National Pillsbury Contest. In a random drawing, his name was chosen, making him the National Winner and the recipient of a $5,000 cash award! Needless to say, that put the sleepy little town of Reed City in the Big News! With the winnings, Don was able to purchase a grocery store in Luther which became Witbeck's IGA.
In 1966, due to an illness, ileitis Krohn's disease, Don sold the store and moved to Cadillac where he worked in another IGA store, and then Kroger's as the meat cutter. Marie was already working as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don's illness continued to plague him, and he eventually had to stop working at the store. Not to be outdone, and always very creative and energetic, Don built himself a "popcorn wagon" that he towed to outdoor markets in northern Michigan. He made and sold pop corn, carmel corn, cotton candy, candied apples, etc. Because of the illness, and the harsh Michigan winters, Don went to Florida in the winter and did the same thing there. Don made the best carmel corn I have ever had.
In May 1979, Don fell off a ladder while painting his house. Due to complications that he was unable to overcome, he entered eternal life on May 9, 1979, at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don was a very loving, kind, and generous person. He was also a great employer. I have many happy memories of times spent with him and his wonderful family. I also have many happy memories of working eight summers and the weekends during high school, in his store, so I could earn money for college. Don will continue to be loved and missed by many.
Don served in the Army National Guard for several years. He spent a few weeks each summer at Camp Grayling in Grayling, Michigan.
Donald Lyle Witbeck was born in Evart, Michigan, on July 24, 1930. Due to complications, Don's mother died six weeks after his birth. His father felt he could not care for a newborn and asked his wife's parents to care for him. Don was raised by his loving grandparents, and they legally adopted him when he was in the 12th grade. He graduated from Evart High School in 1949.
Don had two wonderful brothers, Marvin and Robert. Even though they were really his uncles, they treated him as their loving little brother. Marve and Bob both owned stores in Clare, Michigan, and Marve also owned another Witbeck's IGA (Independent Grocers' Association) in Reed City, where Don worked after completing high school. It just so happened that grocery store was right across the street from the Mackinaw Trail Restaurant where Marie worked as a waitress. Don also drove a maroon colored convertible, so after they started dating, he would take Marie's little sisters for rides in that convertible on Sunday afternoons, and we all fell in love with him!
After Marie graduated from high school in 1953, she had planned to go to St. Mary's in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to become an RN nurse. However, back in those days you could not be married and attend St. Mary's. So, she opted for the one year LPN nursing program at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, Michigan, instead. She and Don were then married on May 15, 1954. After their four children were born and all in school, Marie did go back to Ferris State University in Big Rapids and get her RN and an Associate Degree in Nursing.
Don's dream was to own his own grocery store like his brothers did. However, money was scarce. After the birth of their third child in 1958, Don, on a whim, entered the National Pillsbury Contest. In a random drawing, his name was chosen, making him the National Winner and the recipient of a $5,000 cash award! Needless to say, that put the sleepy little town of Reed City in the Big News! With the winnings, Don was able to purchase a grocery store in Luther which became Witbeck's IGA.
In 1966, due to an illness, ileitis Krohn's disease, Don sold the store and moved to Cadillac where he worked in another IGA store, and then Kroger's as the meat cutter. Marie was already working as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don's illness continued to plague him, and he eventually had to stop working at the store. Not to be outdone, and always very creative and energetic, Don built himself a "popcorn wagon" that he towed to outdoor markets in northern Michigan. He made and sold pop corn, carmel corn, cotton candy, candied apples, etc. Because of the illness, and the harsh Michigan winters, Don went to Florida in the winter and did the same thing there. Don made the best carmel corn I have ever had.
In May 1979, Don fell off a ladder while painting his house. Due to complications that he was unable to overcome, he entered eternal life on May 9, 1979, at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don was a very loving, kind, and generous person. He was also a great employer. I have many happy memories of times spent with him and his wonderful family. I also have many happy memories of working eight summers and the weekends during high school, in his store, so I could earn money for college. Don will continue to be loved and missed by many.
Don served in the Army National Guard for several years. He spent a few weeks each summer at Camp Grayling in Grayling, Michigan.
*Don was my brother-in-law. He married my oldest sister, Marie. They had four children: Kathleen, Brian, Michael, and Nancy. There are now seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.*
Donald Lyle Witbeck was born in Evart, Michigan, on July 24, 1930. Due to complications, Don's mother died six weeks after his birth. His father felt he could not care for a newborn and asked his wife's parents to care for him. Don was raised by his loving grandparents, and they legally adopted him when he was in the 12th grade. He graduated from Evart High School in 1949.
Don had two wonderful brothers, Marvin and Robert. Even though they were really his uncles, they treated him as their loving little brother. Marve and Bob both owned stores in Clare, Michigan, and Marve also owned another Witbeck's IGA (Independent Grocers' Association) in Reed City, where Don worked after completing high school. It just so happened that grocery store was right across the street from the Mackinaw Trail Restaurant where Marie worked as a waitress. Don also drove a maroon colored convertible, so after they started dating, he would take Marie's little sisters for rides in that convertible on Sunday afternoons, and we all fell in love with him!
After Marie graduated from high school in 1953, she had planned to go to St. Mary's in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to become an RN nurse. However, back in those days you could not be married and attend St. Mary's. So, she opted for the one year LPN nursing program at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, Michigan, instead. She and Don were then married on May 15, 1954. After their four children were born and all in school, Marie did go back to Ferris State University in Big Rapids and get her RN and an Associate Degree in Nursing.
Don's dream was to own his own grocery store like his brothers did. However, money was scarce. After the birth of their third child in 1958, Don, on a whim, entered the National Pillsbury Contest. In a random drawing, his name was chosen, making him the National Winner and the recipient of a $5,000 cash award! Needless to say, that put the sleepy little town of Reed City in the Big News! With the winnings, Don was able to purchase a grocery store in Luther which became Witbeck's IGA.
In 1966, due to an illness, ileitis Krohn's disease, Don sold the store and moved to Cadillac where he worked in another IGA store, and then Kroger's as the meat cutter. Marie was already working as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don's illness continued to plague him, and he eventually had to stop working at the store. Not to be outdone, and always very creative and energetic, Don built himself a "popcorn wagon" that he towed to outdoor markets in northern Michigan. He made and sold pop corn, carmel corn, cotton candy, candied apples, etc. Because of the illness, and the harsh Michigan winters, Don went to Florida in the winter and did the same thing there. Don made the best carmel corn I have ever had.
In May 1979, Don fell off a ladder while painting his house. Due to complications that he was unable to overcome, he entered eternal life on May 9, 1979, at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don was a very loving, kind, and generous person. He was also a great employer. I have many happy memories of times spent with him and his wonderful family. I also have many happy memories of working eight summers and the weekends during high school, in his store, so I could earn money for college. Don will continue to be loved and missed by many.
Don served in the Army National Guard for several years. He spent a few weeks each summer at Camp Grayling in Grayling, Michigan.
Donald Lyle Witbeck was born in Evart, Michigan, on July 24, 1930. Due to complications, Don's mother died six weeks after his birth. His father felt he could not care for a newborn and asked his wife's parents to care for him. Don was raised by his loving grandparents, and they legally adopted him when he was in the 12th grade. He graduated from Evart High School in 1949.
Don had two wonderful brothers, Marvin and Robert. Even though they were really his uncles, they treated him as their loving little brother. Marve and Bob both owned stores in Clare, Michigan, and Marve also owned another Witbeck's IGA (Independent Grocers' Association) in Reed City, where Don worked after completing high school. It just so happened that grocery store was right across the street from the Mackinaw Trail Restaurant where Marie worked as a waitress. Don also drove a maroon colored convertible, so after they started dating, he would take Marie's little sisters for rides in that convertible on Sunday afternoons, and we all fell in love with him!
After Marie graduated from high school in 1953, she had planned to go to St. Mary's in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to become an RN nurse. However, back in those days you could not be married and attend St. Mary's. So, she opted for the one year LPN nursing program at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, Michigan, instead. She and Don were then married on May 15, 1954. After their four children were born and all in school, Marie did go back to Ferris State University in Big Rapids and get her RN and an Associate Degree in Nursing.
Don's dream was to own his own grocery store like his brothers did. However, money was scarce. After the birth of their third child in 1958, Don, on a whim, entered the National Pillsbury Contest. In a random drawing, his name was chosen, making him the National Winner and the recipient of a $5,000 cash award! Needless to say, that put the sleepy little town of Reed City in the Big News! With the winnings, Don was able to purchase a grocery store in Luther which became Witbeck's IGA.
In 1966, due to an illness, ileitis Krohn's disease, Don sold the store and moved to Cadillac where he worked in another IGA store, and then Kroger's as the meat cutter. Marie was already working as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don's illness continued to plague him, and he eventually had to stop working at the store. Not to be outdone, and always very creative and energetic, Don built himself a "popcorn wagon" that he towed to outdoor markets in northern Michigan. He made and sold pop corn, carmel corn, cotton candy, candied apples, etc. Because of the illness, and the harsh Michigan winters, Don went to Florida in the winter and did the same thing there. Don made the best carmel corn I have ever had.
In May 1979, Don fell off a ladder while painting his house. Due to complications that he was unable to overcome, he entered eternal life on May 9, 1979, at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
Don was a very loving, kind, and generous person. He was also a great employer. I have many happy memories of times spent with him and his wonderful family. I also have many happy memories of working eight summers and the weekends during high school, in his store, so I could earn money for college. Don will continue to be loved and missed by many.
Don served in the Army National Guard for several years. He spent a few weeks each summer at Camp Grayling in Grayling, Michigan.
