Donald Pears

Donald H. Pears, age 89 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 11:28 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 with family gathered around at his home following an extended illness. His family is grateful for the kind and compassionate attention offered by many including caregivers Tina, Valena, Sarah, Marquita, and Vanessa.

He was born on December 20, 1927 in Niles and was the son of Herbert and Harriet (Hatfield) Pears. He was graduated from Niles High School, and was first employed for a few years on the former Michigan Central Railroad. He was then hired by the French Paper Company where he continued to work for forty-one years prior to retirement.

Don was a life member of the Saint Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge #4, F. & A.M. and the Niles Shrine Club where he was a regular volunteer driver for the Shriner’s van transportation to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children – Chicago. He enjoyed golfing in the leagues at Plym Park, and bowling in the leagues at the former White’s Bowling Lanes. He was a great fan of several of the sporting teams at the University of Notre Dame, and of the – now World Series Champion – Chicago Cubs.

On October 24, 1954 at the former Grace E.U.B. Church (now Grace United Methodist Church) in Niles he married the former Geneva Marjora Pointer with whom he celebrated last year the remarkable Sixty-second anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Geneva Pears and their children, Brian (& Gloria Vega) Pears of Niles, and Lynette (& Randy) Hoyt of Niles; grandchildren Jessica (& Bart) Crouch, Joshua (& Mary Ann) Pears, Andrew (& Katherine) Hoyt, and Alexandra Hoyt; great-grandchildren Ellie, Grace, Quinn, and Evelyn; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a sister, Zelda Wilcox Orias.

The family of Donald Pears will gather at a later date to share memories and honor his life. Interment will be in the Masonic Section of the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Contributions in memory of Don may be made to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children – Chicago, 2211 North Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60707. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Services in Niles.