Donald Leroy Metcalf

Donald L. Metcalf passed away at his home in East Jordan on his 81st birthday surrounded by his loved ones.

Don was born on July 29, 1943, in Charlevoix, the son of Julius L. Metcalf and Bertha Mae Collins.

He attended school in East Jordan as a youth and moved to Escanaba as a teen to attend a trade school before joining the military.

Don served in the US Navy from 1961-1966 aboard the USS Shangri-La aircraft carrier spending most of his time in the Mediterranean.

Don was very proud to have served his country. As his father Julius had served in the US Army in WWII receiving a Purple Heart medal. Don was just as proud of his two grandsons whom both served in the US Air Force.

On August 22, 1964, Don married the love of his life Shirley A. Fowler and was side by side with her for the last 60 years at their home by the lake.

After his discharge from the Navy, Don returned home to spend the next 36 years as a welder at Will-Flow Corporation (later Viatec) where he made lots of lifelong friends. Even making it in the Guinness Book of World Records for welding the “World’s Largest Cherry Pie” tin.

Don was an amateur radio operator, used Morse code to communicate across the globe and spent many years growing his ham radio collection. Upon retirement, Don could be found wood working (relaxing in his handcrafted gazebo), tinkering around in his garage with “Allis” his tractor, simply hanging out with his grandson Donald James or out on the lake where he spent countless hours fishing with family and friends. Don was a hardworking man and one of the kindest people you could ever meet. He had strong family values and taught his family what “family” truly is.

He leaves behind his wife Shirley, three daughters Sharyll Morris of East Jordan, Bobbie (Olin) Halbert of East Jordan, Tina (Kevin) Mousseau of Charlevoix, five grandchildren, Melissa Morris, Samantha Morris both of Gaylord, Donald Halbert (Natasha) of Ellsworth, Andrew (Leah) Halbert of Colorado, and Katelynn Mousseau of Charlevoix, and eight great grandchildren. As well as his sisters Nancy Quickery and Pamela Parker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, along with his foster parents Carl & Cleo Benson of Escanaba, brothers Ronald Metcalf of Eagle River, Alaska and Bennie Light of Hartford, Michigan.

Penzien Funeral Home assisted the family with cremation as per Don’s request, there will be no funeral service. His family will be having a private celebration of life where a flag will be raised in his honor.  

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