Donald
Donald J. Oakes
Don passed away Thursday, December 25, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
He was born February 20, 1957 in Lansing. Don served his country in the US Navy during the Vietnam Era. He was a ham radio operator and mechanic who owned and operated After Hours Garage for about five years. Don then began selling computers with a friend of his and later worked at Reinhart Foods where he worked as a salesman and started working with computers. He had also worked for Wausau Financial installing computer software and hardware. He was a member of the NRA and enjoyed cooking, politics, riding motorcycles, playing Clash of Clans and most of all spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Don was a very funny and witty man. On April 29, 2012 in Otsego he married Danni Carruthers who survives.
Also surviving are his children, Donald J. Oakes Jr., Nichole Leigh (Ben) Kim, Kristi Marie (Mark) Berger and Daniel Eli Oakes; 10 grandchildren, his step-children, Joshua (Sheryl) Coburn, Jessi Coburn, Randi (Don) Haskins and Kaitlyn Chapman; 4 step-grandchildren, his father, Robert Oakes; several siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother Virginia.
Friends may visit with Don’s family Monday, December 29, 2014 from 5-7 P.M. at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego where a Funeral Service will be held Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. with Celebrant Bill Rose officiating. Military Honors by VFW Post #3030.
Cremation will follow.
Contributions in memory of Don may be made to the charity of your choice.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www
.WinkelFuneralHome
.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Donald J. Oakes
Condolence Messages
Brian and Diane Johnson
December 26, 2014 at 3:47 pm
I am saddened by your loss, my husband and I have been and will continue praying for you and your family. There are not words that can express how sorry I am that this happened so soon.
Reply
Ronnie Marks
December 26, 2014 at 4:16 pm
My thoughts and prayers go out to Danni and all of Don’s family. Don was a great guy and I will miss his smile and his friendship. Keep the happy and cherished memories you have of Don close to your hearts and he will always be there. Rest in peace, my friend, classmate, and shipmate.
Reply
Otsego High School Class of 1975
December 26, 2014 at 4:24 pm
It was an honor and privilege to have Don as a classmate at OHS. As a member of our reunion committee, Don’s enthusiasm, willingness to help, and never ending smile served as an inspiration to us all. We were proud to graduate with Don, we are proud of his Naval service, and we are proud of the great man that he was. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Oakes family. May Don rest forever in peace.
Reply
Tammy Thompson-Drake
December 26, 2014 at 7:32 pm
So very sorry Danni and all Family, God Bless you all and hold you all in his arms, for strength and comfort. prayers continue.
Reply
Barbara (Hatten) Meints
December 26, 2014 at 8:34 pm
my deepest sympathies go out to Danni and the rest of the family. Don was the love of Dannis life and I will miss his sense of humor. What a great guy he was and I’m sure he will be missed by many. Thoughts and prayers to all of the family. Rest in peace Don and I know you will continue to watch over Danni and the kids. God Bless
Reply
Jennifer Pankow
December 26, 2014 at 8:40 pm
Danni and family, I am so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to you. I worked with Don at Wausau Financial and he was someone I truly enjoyed seeing and talking to everyday. He was a very kind and soulful person and was proud to call him my friend.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this time.
Jennifer Pankow
Reply
Scott Pankow
December 26, 2014 at 8:42 pm
My deepest Sympathy goes out to the family. I worked with Don at Wausau and had many interesting trips with him. The most fun trip was our Yellowstone/Cody/Beartooth pass weekend when we were in Montana.
Don was always fun to travel with and I missed working and traveling with him.
Reply
Becky Moline
December 26, 2014 at 9:16 pm
Dear Danni and family,
I’m a friend of Cindy’s. We met with Don in Seattle for dinner when Cindy was out visiting us. He really was fun loving, kind man. I feel honored to have met him. The only thing that would have made it better is if you had been there with him. My deepest condolences go out to you. May the power of prayer wrap you in a warmth of love from all who know you and knew Don.
God bless.
Reply
Sy Miller
December 26, 2014 at 9:30 pm
Our deepest sympathies to Danni and the rest of the family. Very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. We have many fond memory’s of Don! Our prayers are with you.
Reply
Georgia Snyder
December 27, 2014 at 10:15 am
Danni, sending prayers to you and you family so sorry for your loss.
Reply
Sharon Griffin
December 27, 2014 at 11:35 am
Please accept my sincere sympathies. I worked with Don on several projects while he was with Wausau Financial and he loved talking about his family and it was with pride and love that he did so. May God comfort you and your family.
Sharon Griffin
Reply
Chris Anson
December 27, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Danni and family
The love that you shared will always shine on.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Hugs and prayers to all of you.
Reply
Tom Treba
December 27, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Our condolences to Danni and family. Don’s sense of humor and laugh always made work more enjoyable. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Reply
Patricia Ross
December 28, 2014 at 10:21 am
My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. Love and memories never die.
Reply
Kevin Gilroy
December 31, 2014 at 1:50 pm
I worked with Don in a retail computer store in Marquette. He was very charismatic and always had a great sense of humor. I also have many fond memories of Don in the Amateur radio realm. Don was a great man and will be missed. My condolences to his family.
Reply
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He was born February 20, 1957 in Lansing. Don served his country in the US Navy during the Vietnam Era. He was a ham radio operator and mechanic who owned and operated After Hours Garage for about five years. Don then began selling computers with a friend of his and later worked at Reinhart Foods where he worked as a salesman and started working with computers. He had also worked for Wausau Financial installing computer software and hardware. He was a member of the NRA and enjoyed cooking, politics, riding motorcycles, playing Clash of Clans and most of all spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Don was a very funny and witty man. On April 29, 2012 in Otsego he married Danni Carruthers who survives.
Also surviving are his children, Donald J. Oakes Jr., Nichole Leigh (Ben) Kim, Kristi Marie (Mark) Berger and Daniel Eli Oakes; 10 grandchildren, his step-children, Joshua (Sheryl) Coburn, Jessi Coburn, Randi (Don) Haskins and Kaitlyn Chapman; 4 step-grandchildren, his father, Robert Oakes; several siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother Virginia.
Friends may visit with Don’s family Monday, December 29, 2014 from 5-7 P.M. at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego where a Funeral Service will be held Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. with Celebrant Bill Rose officiating. Military Honors by VFW Post #3030.
Cremation will follow.
Contributions in memory of Don may be made to the charity of your choice.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www
.WinkelFuneralHome
.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Donald J. Oakes
Condolence Messages
Brian and Diane Johnson
December 26, 2014 at 3:47 pm
I am saddened by your loss, my husband and I have been and will continue praying for you and your family. There are not words that can express how sorry I am that this happened so soon.
Reply
Ronnie Marks
December 26, 2014 at 4:16 pm
My thoughts and prayers go out to Danni and all of Don’s family. Don was a great guy and I will miss his smile and his friendship. Keep the happy and cherished memories you have of Don close to your hearts and he will always be there. Rest in peace, my friend, classmate, and shipmate.
Reply
Otsego High School Class of 1975
December 26, 2014 at 4:24 pm
It was an honor and privilege to have Don as a classmate at OHS. As a member of our reunion committee, Don’s enthusiasm, willingness to help, and never ending smile served as an inspiration to us all. We were proud to graduate with Don, we are proud of his Naval service, and we are proud of the great man that he was. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Oakes family. May Don rest forever in peace.
Reply
Tammy Thompson-Drake
December 26, 2014 at 7:32 pm
So very sorry Danni and all Family, God Bless you all and hold you all in his arms, for strength and comfort. prayers continue.
Reply
Barbara (Hatten) Meints
December 26, 2014 at 8:34 pm
my deepest sympathies go out to Danni and the rest of the family. Don was the love of Dannis life and I will miss his sense of humor. What a great guy he was and I’m sure he will be missed by many. Thoughts and prayers to all of the family. Rest in peace Don and I know you will continue to watch over Danni and the kids. God Bless
Reply
Jennifer Pankow
December 26, 2014 at 8:40 pm
Danni and family, I am so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to you. I worked with Don at Wausau Financial and he was someone I truly enjoyed seeing and talking to everyday. He was a very kind and soulful person and was proud to call him my friend.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this time.
Jennifer Pankow
Reply
Scott Pankow
December 26, 2014 at 8:42 pm
My deepest Sympathy goes out to the family. I worked with Don at Wausau and had many interesting trips with him. The most fun trip was our Yellowstone/Cody/Beartooth pass weekend when we were in Montana.
Don was always fun to travel with and I missed working and traveling with him.
Reply
Becky Moline
December 26, 2014 at 9:16 pm
Dear Danni and family,
I’m a friend of Cindy’s. We met with Don in Seattle for dinner when Cindy was out visiting us. He really was fun loving, kind man. I feel honored to have met him. The only thing that would have made it better is if you had been there with him. My deepest condolences go out to you. May the power of prayer wrap you in a warmth of love from all who know you and knew Don.
God bless.
Reply
Sy Miller
December 26, 2014 at 9:30 pm
Our deepest sympathies to Danni and the rest of the family. Very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. We have many fond memory’s of Don! Our prayers are with you.
Reply
Georgia Snyder
December 27, 2014 at 10:15 am
Danni, sending prayers to you and you family so sorry for your loss.
Reply
Sharon Griffin
December 27, 2014 at 11:35 am
Please accept my sincere sympathies. I worked with Don on several projects while he was with Wausau Financial and he loved talking about his family and it was with pride and love that he did so. May God comfort you and your family.
Sharon Griffin
Reply
Chris Anson
December 27, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Danni and family
The love that you shared will always shine on.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Hugs and prayers to all of you.
Reply
Tom Treba
December 27, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Our condolences to Danni and family. Don’s sense of humor and laugh always made work more enjoyable. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Reply
Patricia Ross
December 28, 2014 at 10:21 am
My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. Love and memories never die.
Reply
Kevin Gilroy
December 31, 2014 at 1:50 pm
I worked with Don in a retail computer store in Marquette. He was very charismatic and always had a great sense of humor. I also have many fond memories of Don in the Amateur radio realm. Don was a great man and will be missed. My condolences to his family.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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