Donald Root

Mr. Donald L. Root, age 67, of Trufant, passed away late Sunday evening, July 18, 2010 at his home under the loving care of his family and Hospice of Michigan. The son of Wilbur & Dorothy (Challender) Root, he was born on June 25, 1943 in Charlotte and grew up in the Lansing area. Following his service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Don married Mary Margaret Austin on Christmas Day in 1964. He retired as a tool maker after a long career in the tool and die trades and enjoyed fishing and hunting. Surviving are his wife, Mary M. Root of Trufant; three sons, Michael (Kim) Root of Rockford, Shawn (Diane) Root of Grand Ledge, and James (Charlene) Root of Lansing; his grandchildren, Madison and Sydney Root, Hanna, Genevieve, and Jacob Root, Nicklas and Kara Dwyer, and Kaitlyn and Kameron Root; two sisters, Deborah (Joe) Pranomvanavech of Grand Rapids, and Tammy (Walt) Weatherford of Muir; two brothers, Michael Root and Howard Whipple, both of Six Lakes; two aunts, Jaunita Pulling of Portland and Kathleen Miller of Charlotte; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Austin of Amsterdam, and John (Janie) Austin of Mason; and many nieces and nephews. The family invites relatives and friends to join them in a celebration of Dons life beginning at 4:00 p.m. on July 31st, at the Root family home. Committal services, with full military honors, are planned for 1:00 p.m. on August 27th at Fort Custer National Cemetery near Battle Creek. The Christiansen Funeral Home & Cremation Center, honored providers of Veterans Funeral Care, is serving the family. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Root, please visit our flower store.