Donald E. Hartwell

Donald Eveard Hartwell passed away peacefully at home on November 8, 2016 several weeks after his 97th birthday. He was born on September 27, 1919 to Eveard and Della Hartwell and grew up in Detroit graduating from Northwestern High School where he met his life-long sweetheart, Mildred. After marrying, Donald took his bride to New York where he was stationed at the Navy shipyards during the war. After the war, he and Mildred moved back to the Detroit area where he was employed as a mechanical engineer at BASF Wyandotte for 49 years and to Grosse Ile (on Hickory Island) where he was very content to spend the remaining years of his life. He loved to travel the world, he sailed/raced until he was 90, and he had maize and blue blood coursing through his veins. However, nothing could bring a smile to his face more readily than the sight of his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who knew him affectionately as Grandpa or "Pi". He is survived by his sons Brian (Katie) and David (Kate); daughter Jeanne (Tony); grandchildren: Claire, Becca, Ellen, Mark, and Trevor; and great-grandchildren: Julien, Oliver, Alexander, and Benjamin. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Mildred; his brothers Kenneth and Robert; and his sisters, Dorothy and Helen. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 25150 East River Road, Grosse Ile on December 4th at 3pm. Memorial donations suggested to Hickory Island Company 29820 E. River, Grosse Ile.