Donald Martin Korte

Donald Martin Korte passed into eternity on January 17, with his daughters, Pam, Cathy and Chris and niece, Karen,  at his bedside. His daughter, Lori, in Arizona was reaching out with the family on the phone. He fought well, the good fight, with cancer. His long journey on earth (just shy of 95 years) has ended and in hope and in prayer we trust that he is now on a great new journey where there is no suffering, no tears. He was a hard working farmer beginning on his parent’s (Fred and Loretta) family farm in his youth. He started his own 12 piece "big band" orchestra when he was 17 years old in high school and that group played for many years afterward. Don was a graduate of Michigan State Agricultural College.

He loved farming and playing the saxophone also in community orchestras, including Novi’s. He served as an usher for many years in his Canton parish, St. John Neumann. Don was a very hard working man, who with his wife, Marilyn (passed in 2018), raised a family of five, Donnie (passed in 2003)(and Celeste), Pam (and Doug Herriman), Cathleen, Chris (and Paul Schmidt), Lori (and Hector Gonzalez). He had many nieces, nephews, and good friends such as Frank Thompson and Van Varner that he cherished. Proud grandfather of Stirling, Spencer, and Sinclair, Doug Herriman Jr (and Elizabeth), Dawn (and Nick Hurley), Nicole (and Mike Craig), Brittany Gonzalez, and Anthony Gonzales. Proud great grandfather of Chloe Santieu Herriman, Malena McNeill, Madison, Nicholas, Mackenzie Hurley, Cal and Wynn Herriman In addition to farming and playing the saxophone, Don sold seed for Dekalb for many years and had his own weed control business. Don was a very outgoing sociable person who always greeted you with a great and warm smile. He will be greatly missed by many family members and friends.

We go through great sorrow in such time of loss, but we find comfort in the hope that our faith gives us.