Donald Nyhuis' Obituary
Donald Gene Nyhuis, 91, passed away, surrounded by loved ones, on August 6, 2013 in Germantown, Tenn. He had lived at The Village at Germantown, retirement community for nearly ten years. Gene was born in Hudsonville, Mich., on August 15, 1921 to Doris Pearl and Bernard John Nyhuis. He was the third of four boys. He also had a sister. He graduated from Hudsonville High School in 1939. He was known in Hudsonville for his athletic prowess and lettered in three sports, excelling in football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball at Western Michigan University. Upon graduation in 1943, he enlisted in the Navy. But before he was shipped off to the Pacific, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Louise Seydel on December 23, 1944. Gene served aboard a supply ship as the First Lieutenant in the Solomon Islands, the Philippines and later on the Japanese mainland.After the war, he returned to Michigan to begin a nearly forty year career with GAB Business Services as an insurance adjuster. Gene and Mary started a family and they moved throughout the Upper Midwest. His last assignment as a company executive saw Gene, Mary and their family move to Long Island, New York. Gene and Mary retired on the Seydel family farm in Hudsonville, Mich., and enjoyed many happy years there. He and Mary were avid golfers, loved to take cruises and enjoyed the company of their family and friends.Donald Gene is survived by daughter Mary Kay Rocha (Victor) of Germantown, Tenn.; sister Joyce Brower of New Port Richey, Fla.; brother Elvin Nyhuis, Hartford, Mich. He leaves four grandchildren, Jason Handel of Germantown, Tenn, Heather Zwickey of Midland, Georgia, Alexander and Nicholas Rocha of Germantown, Tenn.; and six great-granddaughters. Gene is reunited in heaven with Mary Louise, and his two daughters, Linda Handel and Kathleen Dubin.A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Germantown United Methodist Church.
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