Donald Lehigh

Donald Darwin Lehigh, age 80, of Cedar Springs, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Friday November 26, 2021 at Spectrum Health-Blodgett Hospital in East Grand Rapids following a battle with Covid pneumonia. Don was born on November 24, 1941 in Munising, to the late Darwin Charles Lehigh and Vera Marie (Johnson) Ward. Don grew up in Munising, where he graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1959. Don married his high school sweetheart, Lorayne Usimaki, on June 23, 1963, and they relocated to Lowell, where they raised their two children. Don worked at Kroger Grocery in Lowell and Grand Rapids, was a Realtor for many years, and worked at 5/3 Bank from where he retired in 2006. Don was an avid hunter into his later years. He scored his big trophy buck on opening day in 2019, and also loved golfing twice a week on Senior Leagues. He was active in the sportsman club, teaching hunter's safety, coached little league football and baseball, participated in Indian Guides and Princess Indian Guides with his children. He also enjoyed watching University of Michigan football, Detroit Lions football and Detroit Pistons Basketball. He also liked cooking and trying out new recipes with family and friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Darwin Lehigh and Vera Ward; stepmother, Miriam (Linjala-Thornton) Lehigh; step-brother, Brian Thornton; parents-in-law, Edward Sr. & Jenny Usimaki; sister-in-law, Kathi (Morrison) Usimaki; and brother-in-law, William "Bill" Burrows Don is survived by his wife of 58 years of marriage, Lorayne Usimaki-Lehigh of Cedar Springs; their two children, Brenda (John) Brom of Gowen, and David (Karen) Lehigh of Lowell; two grandchildren Dana Brom and Brandon Brom; siblings, Cheryl (Bruce) Rittenger, Jeanette Donnecker; siblings-in-law, Edward Usimaki, Jr. and Carol Burrows; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Settlement Lutheran Church, 1031 S. Johnson Road, Gowen, where memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Rev. Betsy Kamphuis and Vicar Ed Ruble will officiate and a luncheon will follow in the church hall. The family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the wonderful nursing and hospital staff at Spectrum Health-Blodgett Hospital for the compassionate care they gave Don and his family during his last final hours. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Lehigh, please visit our flower store.