Donald "Donny" J. Gatiss, Sr.

Munising

Donald James “Donny” Gatiss, Sr., age 87, of Munising, died Saturday, September 22, 2018 surrounded by family at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans.  He was born in Munising to the late John and Verna (Bauman) Gatiss.  Donny was a member of the Wm. G. Mather High School Class of 1949.  He entered the United States Navy on February 1, 1948.  Donny served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was stationed in New London, Connecticut, Bermuda, Newfoundland, and Saigon, Vietnam aboard the USS James C. Owens (DD-776), USS Wyandot (AKA-92), USS Aldebran (AF-10) and USS Buchanan (DDG-14).  He was honorably discharged on August 7, 1967 as a Storekeeper Chief (SKC).  While stationed in Bermuda, Donny met and married Barbara H. Meany and together they started their family.  After retiring from the Navy, he worked alongside Hub Perrault at Hub’s Super Valu and held various other jobs.  He later went on to work at the Buckhorn Resort and Otter Lake Campground where he worked until he was 80.  Donny loved cheering for the Green Bay Packers, hunting, and playing cards, poker and dice.  He also enjoyed traveling all around the U.S. and was always ready to take a road trip.  His most recent trip came when Donny and his daughter Debbie were able to travel to Washington D.C. with U.P. Honor Flight Mission XIII, a trip that Donny cherished.   Over the years, Donny was a member of the Lions Club, Moose Lodge, American Legion, and Munising School Board.

He is survived by his children – Deborah (Ron Graves) Hopkins of Eben Junction, Donald (Connie) Gatiss, Jr. of Christmas, and Norman Gatiss of Munising; grandchildren – Jeremy (Tricia) VanLandschoot, Amber (Lee) Curtis both of Munising, and Joshua (Amanda) Gatiss of Rockford, Michigan; great-grandchildren – Sydney, Jay, Jacob, and Drew; sisters - Molly Hillier and Suzette Bennett; sister-in-law – Lois Gatiss; special friends – Jim and Donna Pepin and family; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.  Donny was preceded in death by his parents; son – David Gatiss, wives Barbara Hull and Lou Gatiss; siblings – Jack (Marie) Gatiss, Robert Gatiss, Sally Ross, Pat (Bill) Cromell, and Mary “Sis” Gatiss; brother-in-law – Robert Hillier; nephew – Jack Gatiss; and niece – Suzette Rodgers.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m.  Pastor Sandra Kolder will conduct Donny’s service at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will be on Monday, October 1, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Maple Grove Cemetery where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors.

Memorials in Donny’s name may be made to the U.P. Honor Flight.