Donald K Desautels

Donald Keena Desautels, 92, of Gaylord, Michigan, passed away on November 26th 2012 in his home at Aspen Ridge of natural causes. Don was born on November 4, 1920, in Detroit Michigan to Archie and Elizabeth Desautels. In his youth, he was active in the Boy Scouts, reaching the rank of Star Scout, but photography became his life passion when introduced to cameras by a close family friend. Donald graduated from Southwestern High School in Detroit in 1938.

Photography became his contribution to the war effort when he joined the Air Force during World War II. While there, he broadened his photography skills to include motion picture, filming aircraft maneuvers and providing films to train those heading for battle.

After the war, he returned to Detroit, where he met his wife, Rita Mooney, whom he married in 1946. The young couple moved first to Oak Park then to Birmingham Michigan when Don joined the photography staff at the Ford Tractor Company of Birmingham, Michigan, where he worked for 14 years before joining GM Photographic as a Motion Picture Director.

Donald and Rita had three sons. He raised his three boys to value the outdoors. He took them camping many summers to the wilds of northern Ontario, taught them to spin a jitterbug toward a lily pad, spun stories of the day’s catches around the campfire, and to watch in awe the stars visible only to those who leave the city behind.

Donald guided his sons into Boy Scouts, to learn self-sufficiency and confidence within an outdoors environment. Not only did each of his sons become Eagle scouts but his influence helped each of his three grandsons to become Eagle scouts as well.

Donald retired from GM in 1982; in 1989, he and Rita moved to Michaywe in Gaylord. Don’s move to Gaylord not only provided a stunning backdrop for his photography, but also helped satisfy his interests in fishing and hunting. He loved to hunt the whitetail or troll a spoon for the Great Northern; so much, that he never seemed to mind if he returned with an empty net or a quiet gun.

He and Rita found time during the retirement years to travel to Europe, including visits to England, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and others. But, in the end, Gaylord was home.

Don was predeceased by Rita’s passing in 2006. He is survived by his three sons: Don S. (Mary) of Gaylord, Brian M. (Jane Brenneman) of Seattle, and James P. (Katy) of Birmingham; by six grandchildren: Chris Desautels (Julie) of Bloomington IN, Aimee Mali (Roger) of Franklin MI, Nicole Desautels (Shawn Becker) of Seattle WA, Adam Desautels (Becki Brugasser) of Seattle WA, Michael Desautels of Chicago IL, and Ally Desautels of Indianapolis IN; and by 5 great-grandchildren: Cameron, Isabella, and Noah Desautels of Bloomington IN, and Christopher and Emerson Mali of Beverly Hills MI.

A private memorial for Donald is being planned for the Spring, which is how he would like it.

Arrangements are by Gaylord Funeral & Cremation Service, 850 N. Center Ave. P.O. Box 249, Gaylord, MI 49734 www.gaylordfuneralhome.com