Birth date: Jun 28, 1944 Death date: Sep 15, 2025
Donald Louis Vanderwest, age 81, passed away in Spring Lake, MI, on Monday, September 15, 2025. He was born in Muskegon to Abel and Gertrude (Sikkenga) Vanderwest on June 28, 1944, and lived most of his life in the Muskegon area. Read Obituary
I learned how to drive a stick shift in his truck. I had my father & Don yelling brake brake brake as I backed into a mailbox. I hit the clutch instead of brake! LOL Fortunately the mailbox owner was good natured about it! The men replaced the mailbox with new one, and owner gave me a rose too! A memory I will never forget.
Don was a wonderful man. The 1st time I met him was when I unexpectedly left Boggy Creek Elementary. I called Trish and told her I needed help packing up my room and somewhere to store my things. Do and Mary were in town and they were on the way to Disney with Trish and the boys, who were maybe 3 at the time. Don immediately turned the van around and they came to school to help me pack up. We were done in just a few hours with his help and then went to Sonnys for a family dinner, paid for by Don. I have felt like family ever since. God Bless you Don, may you rest in peace. 😪💔
Don was a wonderful man. The 1st time I met him was when I unexpectedly left Boggy Creek Elementary. I called Trish and told her I needed help packing up my room and somewhere to store my things. Do and Mary were in town and they were on the way to Disney with Trish and the boys, who were maybe 3 at the time. Don immediately turned the van around and they came to school to help me pack up. We were done in just a few hours with his help and then went to Sonnys for a family dinner, paid for by Don. I have felt like family ever since. God Bless you Don, may you rest in peace. 😪💔
