Robert V. Dontje Sr., of Manton, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at the Cape Coral Hospital in Florida. He was 88 years old.
Robert was born to the late Daniel and Hattie (Church) Dontje of Manton. He graduated from Manton High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. While serving as a radio operator/machine gunner on a B-24, he flew 31 bombing missions and was shot down by enemy fire over Austria. Bob was a POW in Stalag 17 for a year and was released in 1945. After the war, he worked for Consumers Power in Grand Rapids.
He married his wife of 65 years, Sylvia Burnick, on January 10, 1946. They moved back to Manton in 1947 to live and operate the family Manton celery farm. Bob also worked for Chris Craft in Cadillac. In 1964, they moved to Lapeer, where he was employed by the State of Michigan as a carpenter. Upon retirement in 1981, they returned to Manton and spent their winters in Holiday and Cape Coral, Florida.
Survivors include his daughter, Marcia Dontje of Corte Madera, Calif.; sons, Robert Jr. (Jean) of Cape Coral, Fla.; Dale of Flint, Mich.; and Mark (Kathy) of DeWitt, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Dana (John) Mihaly, Dale (Tracy) Gundy, Jason, Justin, Evan (Haley), Anna, Ryan and Taylor Dontje; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Wayne Dontje of New Port Richey, Fla.; sisters, Ione Zokoe of Grand Rapids; Joyce Cleary of Grand Rapids; and Judy Sperry of Kalamazoo; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia (Burnick) Dontje; brothers, Roger, Grover, Hugh; and sister, Jean Moore.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 22, 2012, at the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home in Manton, with Pastor Richard A. Anderson officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday prior to the service. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Manton.
A luncheon will follow the services at the Manton VFW. Gifts in memory of Mr. Dontje may be made to the Manton Senior Center.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home.
Robert was born to the late Daniel and Hattie (Church) Dontje of Manton. He graduated from Manton High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. While serving as a radio operator/machine gunner on a B-24, he flew 31 bombing missions and was shot down by enemy fire over Austria. Bob was a POW in Stalag 17 for a year and was released in 1945. After the war, he worked for Consumers Power in Grand Rapids.
He married his wife of 65 years, Sylvia Burnick, on January 10, 1946. They moved back to Manton in 1947 to live and operate the family Manton celery farm. Bob also worked for Chris Craft in Cadillac. In 1964, they moved to Lapeer, where he was employed by the State of Michigan as a carpenter. Upon retirement in 1981, they returned to Manton and spent their winters in Holiday and Cape Coral, Florida.
Survivors include his daughter, Marcia Dontje of Corte Madera, Calif.; sons, Robert Jr. (Jean) of Cape Coral, Fla.; Dale of Flint, Mich.; and Mark (Kathy) of DeWitt, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Dana (John) Mihaly, Dale (Tracy) Gundy, Jason, Justin, Evan (Haley), Anna, Ryan and Taylor Dontje; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Wayne Dontje of New Port Richey, Fla.; sisters, Ione Zokoe of Grand Rapids; Joyce Cleary of Grand Rapids; and Judy Sperry of Kalamazoo; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia (Burnick) Dontje; brothers, Roger, Grover, Hugh; and sister, Jean Moore.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 22, 2012, at the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home in Manton, with Pastor Richard A. Anderson officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday prior to the service. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Manton.
A luncheon will follow the services at the Manton VFW. Gifts in memory of Mr. Dontje may be made to the Manton Senior Center.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home.
Robert V. Dontje Sr., of Manton, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at the Cape Coral Hospital in Florida. He was 88 years old.
Robert was born to the late Daniel and Hattie (Church) Dontje of Manton. He graduated from Manton High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. While serving as a radio operator/machine gunner on a B-24, he flew 31 bombing missions and was shot down by enemy fire over Austria. Bob was a POW in Stalag 17 for a year and was released in 1945. After the war, he worked for Consumers Power in Grand Rapids.
He married his wife of 65 years, Sylvia Burnick, on January 10, 1946. They moved back to Manton in 1947 to live and operate the family Manton celery farm. Bob also worked for Chris Craft in Cadillac. In 1964, they moved to Lapeer, where he was employed by the State of Michigan as a carpenter. Upon retirement in 1981, they returned to Manton and spent their winters in Holiday and Cape Coral, Florida.
Survivors include his daughter, Marcia Dontje of Corte Madera, Calif.; sons, Robert Jr. (Jean) of Cape Coral, Fla.; Dale of Flint, Mich.; and Mark (Kathy) of DeWitt, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Dana (John) Mihaly, Dale (Tracy) Gundy, Jason, Justin, Evan (Haley), Anna, Ryan and Taylor Dontje; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Wayne Dontje of New Port Richey, Fla.; sisters, Ione Zokoe of Grand Rapids; Joyce Cleary of Grand Rapids; and Judy Sperry of Kalamazoo; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia (Burnick) Dontje; brothers, Roger, Grover, Hugh; and sister, Jean Moore.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 22, 2012, at the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home in Manton, with Pastor Richard A. Anderson officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday prior to the service. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Manton.
A luncheon will follow the services at the Manton VFW. Gifts in memory of Mr. Dontje may be made to the Manton Senior Center.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home.
Robert was born to the late Daniel and Hattie (Church) Dontje of Manton. He graduated from Manton High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. While serving as a radio operator/machine gunner on a B-24, he flew 31 bombing missions and was shot down by enemy fire over Austria. Bob was a POW in Stalag 17 for a year and was released in 1945. After the war, he worked for Consumers Power in Grand Rapids.
He married his wife of 65 years, Sylvia Burnick, on January 10, 1946. They moved back to Manton in 1947 to live and operate the family Manton celery farm. Bob also worked for Chris Craft in Cadillac. In 1964, they moved to Lapeer, where he was employed by the State of Michigan as a carpenter. Upon retirement in 1981, they returned to Manton and spent their winters in Holiday and Cape Coral, Florida.
Survivors include his daughter, Marcia Dontje of Corte Madera, Calif.; sons, Robert Jr. (Jean) of Cape Coral, Fla.; Dale of Flint, Mich.; and Mark (Kathy) of DeWitt, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Dana (John) Mihaly, Dale (Tracy) Gundy, Jason, Justin, Evan (Haley), Anna, Ryan and Taylor Dontje; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Wayne Dontje of New Port Richey, Fla.; sisters, Ione Zokoe of Grand Rapids; Joyce Cleary of Grand Rapids; and Judy Sperry of Kalamazoo; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia (Burnick) Dontje; brothers, Roger, Grover, Hugh; and sister, Jean Moore.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 22, 2012, at the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home in Manton, with Pastor Richard A. Anderson officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday prior to the service. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Manton.
A luncheon will follow the services at the Manton VFW. Gifts in memory of Mr. Dontje may be made to the Manton Senior Center.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hall-Holdship Funeral Home.
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