Donald James Goodman's Obituary
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”
More than anything else, Don was a teacher. Yes, he was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a reader, a hunter, a fisherman, a gentleman, but underneath all that, it was the role of teacher that informed his life.
Donald James Goodman, age 94, passed away on April 3, 2026, at the Leila and Cyrus Poppen residence in Muskegon, Michigan. Born January 12, 1932, in Chicago Heights to James and Frances Goodman. He spent his early years there prior to joining the United States Army in 1952. On August 8, 1953, he married Elizabeth Miley, who preceded him in death in 2019. They moved to Muskegon in 1956 and never looked back.
Don was an educator. Earning his Bachelor’s of Education degree from the University of Illinois and later a Master’s Degree in Education from Michigan State University. He began his career with Muskegon Heights public schools, eventually continuing on to Muskegon Community College, where he established the PALab and worked for over 30 years, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students.
Together with Betty, they raised four boys. He would tell anyone who listened that their initials spelled the first four letters of Batman. Brian, a designer and builder of theater sets at Muskegon Community College and Calvin College. Alan, a freelance musician who became a music teacher at a private school in New York. Tom, a registered nurse and Mark, a drug and alcohol counselor living in Colorado.
Don loved to travel with his wife, Betty. From the remote cabin in Canada to the wilds of the African plains, the shores of Ireland to the mountains of Switzerland. No distance was too far-especially when it came to visiting his children. Be it L.A., Seattle Washington, Colorado Springs, Biloxi Mississippi, Oviedo Spain, or New York, including the Catskills and New York City.
Never one to shy away from trying something new, he embraced every experience- including the food. He sampled bagels and lox, crawfish, Rocky Mountain oysters, hurricane drinks in New Orleans, and mussels while sipping beer on the Normandy coast of France. He even tried his hand at the wine-making business. Using fresh dandelions picked from his yard, distilling them just so to make a concoction that, for lack of a better word, was awful- a complete failure. It was better perhaps, to stick with “a glass of your finest red wine.”
His love of the outdoors was showcased not only by the vegetable and flower gardens he so meticulously laid out in the backyard, but also by the passing on of this torch to his children. Brian, sitting on a dock, cane pole in hand, with a tin can full of garden hackle, dreaming about his next art project. Mark, sipping a Tim Hortons coffee in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains carving a Bigfoot caricature out of wild basswood he had collected. Alan, casting an impa caddisn (tied by no other than the old man himself) on the Beaverkill or Neversink, executing the perfect mend in hopes of enticing that hungry trout waiting just below the surface. Tom, sitting in a deer blind waiting to see the horizontal line of a deer's back in the vertical world of the woods to appear, while remembering the old man’s famous line, “don’t shoot the car”.
Each of us, in our own way, carrying forward what he taught us-quietly making him proud, ensuring that his legacy will not be lost.
Don is survived by his children, Brian (Pamela) Goodman, Alan (Michelle) Goodman, Tom (Diane) Goodman and Mark (Becky) Goodman; grandchildren, Keith Goodman, Paddy Goodman, Zoe Goodman, Noah Goodman, Robyn (Roger) Egeler, Mariel (Shawn) Senecal and Molly (Trina Ennis) Goodman. 5 great- grandchildren; and special family friend Judy Goodman. Don is preceded in death by his wife Betty, his parents and sister Marilyn (George Manthey).
Per Don’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no service will be held at this time. No flowers, please. Memorial contributions may be made to the Don and Betty Goodman scholarship fund at Muskegon Community College.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Walburn Chapel of Sytsema Funeral and Cremation Services, 1547 West Sherman Blvd, Muskegon, MI 49441. Share memories with the family at https://sytsemafh.com
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