Donald Arthur Passino

On Monday July 7, Donald “Donnie” Passino, age 86, took his first steps into Heaven, where his Heavenly family awaited him with open arms. Don was born on May 7, 1939, to parents Claude and Bernice (Vieu) Passino, in his family’s farmhouse in Afton, Michigan. On June 18, 1960, he married Evelyn Pratt. Don and Evelyn just celebrated 65 years of marriage this June. He was employed by the Heat and Frost Insulators Local 47 out of Lansing, Michigan, where he would work all week, and then come home to his family on weekends. The kids would run free during the week, but once dad got home, it was all work and there was no play. There was always something to be done - whether cutting wood, planting the garden, working in the yard or fixing equipment—which bestowed a strong work ethic in his children, that they would go on to share with their own children. If you knew Donnie, you knew he had stories, and stories about hunting, fishing and adventures with his family were his favorite. He loved spending his spare time with his boys out at their hunting property doing God knows what, and if he wasn’t at the property he could often be found cutting wood. And if he wasn’t cutting wood, he was probably thinking about cutting wood. You best believe there was a home cooked meal made by his wife and daughter as soon as the wood cutting was finished. His hands weren’t always the softest, but his laugh was always the loudest. He didn’t always say much but when he did, you listened. If you needed a bolt, he had a bucket full. If you had a craving for a fresh tomato, the saltshaker was always on the window ledge next to the garden. While we wish him to rest in the paradise of heaven, we know he’d be even more at peace if he had some projects to stay busy with—perhaps a motor to fix, a yard to work on, or a pile of wood to cut and stack.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Evelyn, and his children, Lori (Carl) Pollard, Jeff Passino, Joe (Marie) Passino and Jay (Kara) Passino; grandchildren Katie (David) Covell, Andrew Pollard, Amanda Monthei and Amber Passino, Hunter (Nakea Jewell) Passino; and great-grandchildren Evelyn and Oliver Pollard. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Marsha Passino and brother-in-law Ken Pratt. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Bernice (Vieu) and Claude Passino, as well as his brothers Gene, John, Doug, Claude, Jerry and Bob, and his sisters, Joyce Hungerford and Elaine Kijeck.

Per Donnie’s request, there will be no funeral.

In lieu of flowers, stack a pile of wood or eat a tomato or share a funny story with family and friends. Hug your family, and this fall when you shoot the big buck, think of Donnie and him smiling down on you saying, “Good Job!”

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