Gerald W. Mcdonald

Gerald McDonald, 77, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away peacefully, Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, at Central Michigan Community Hospital, surrounded by his family, after a five month battle with pancreatic cancer. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Thomas J. McNamara presiding. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., on Saturday from 6-8 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. The Vigil will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday. Visitation continues at the church on Monday one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Jerry was born May 20, 1932, in Mt. Pleasant, the son of the late Fred and Lucille (Thering) McDonald. A graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in 1950, Jerry served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1954 during the Korean War. He married Marian Weihl on Aug. 17, 1957 at Sacred Heart Church. He was employed by Norm Prior Service from 1955-1956, Roosevelt Refinery from 1956-1971, and retired from Alma Total Petroleum and Total Pipeline after 39 years. He was a member of Sacred Heart Parish where he served as an usher. He was also a board member of the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation and a life member of the VFW Post 3033 in Mt. Pleasant. He enjoyed gardening, lawn work, playing cards and just visiting with the many friends he had. But the most important thing in his life was his family, especially his grandchildren who will miss their grandpas presence at the many gatherings and sporting events he attended. Jerry is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marian; five children, Judy (Dave) Simons and Jeff (Penny) McDonald, both of Cadillac, Steve (Michelle) McDonald of Jackson, Tim (Christina) McDonald of Bay City, and Pat (Amy) McDonald of Mt. Pleasant; 10 grandchildren, Ben and John Simons, Matthew, Kyle and Travis McDonald, Rachel McDonald, Brooke Elliott, and Samantha, Kelsey, and Joe McDonald; three brothers, Jim (Leona) McDonald and Bob (Gail) McDonald, both of Mt. Pleasant and William (Sally) McDonald of Rose Lake; four sisters, Marge (Ron) Stickney of Canadian Lakes, Kathleen Kearney of Washington, Ruth (Charles) Johnson of Villages, FL, and Evelyn (Cliff) Schmidt of Jackson; two sisters-in-law, Barbara McDonald and Leona McDonald, both of Mt. Pleasant; and his brother-in-law, Daniel Worley of Farwell; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Other survivors include his in-laws, Willard and Vernetta Carrick, Duane and Mildred Acker, Velma Marble, Edwin and Linda Weihl, and Carole and Jerry Gualdoni. He was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Richard Dick McDonald; sister, Mary Worley; and his brother-in-law, Anthony Kearney.