of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Brookfield, WI
Age 92, died Monday, September 25, 2023, at Chelsea Retirement Community. He was born October 5, 1930, in Detroit, the son of Orville Edward and Emma Bertha (Hespeler) Waterman.
A 1948 graduate of Denby High School in Detroit, Don attended Wayne State University briefly but ultimately earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Detroit. During college he was drafted into the US Army, serving stateside for two years and discovering his aptitude for finance and accounting, which laid the foundation for his professional career. Don worked for Touche, Ross, Bailey & Smart (later Deloitte & Touche) in Detroit, Atlanta, and Milwaukee, retiring in 1988.
An active member of Brookfield (WI) Presbyterian Church (now Living Hope Presbyterian), Don served repeatedly as an elder and treasurer. His dedication to service also included his long membership and leadership in the Elmbrook (WI) Rotary Club and years of post-retirement volunteer work as a math and literacy tutor in Milwaukee. In his free time, Don enjoyed traveling with his wife, Peggy, particularly to the American West and national parks, where he exercised his favorite hobby, photography, discovering a special passion for black-and-white photography and for developing his own pictures. He also loved boating and spent many happy hours on Lake St. Clair and Lake Lanier. Finally, he was a voracious reader who particularly enjoyed history, biographies, espionage thrillers, and the New York Times. Don was a gentle and kind man who loved and was loved by his family and friends.
Don is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy”; daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Daniel) Foss of Ann Arbor; son, John (Paige) Waterman of Bethesda, MD; 3 grandchildren, Marleigh Foss, Benjamin Waterman, Emma Waterman; sister-in-law, Anne Beaubien; and a niece and nephew. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Philip C. Berry; and his sister-in-law, Sara Dunn Berry.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, October 7, at 2:00 pm, at the Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel, with Chaplain Julie Kilmer officiating. Burial will take place at a later date at Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor.
Memorial contributions may be made to Literacy Services of Wisconsin or to UMRC Foundation (designate to the Team Member Support Services East Fund).
Click here to watch the recording of Don's memorial service.
You may use the form below to share a memory or leave a public message for Don's family. Please allow 24 hours for us to review and post your comment.
Comments
Sending our deepest sympathies to you and your family.
We know how much you enjoyed spending these last couple of years with your folks, after they moved back to Michigan. I suspect that they have enjoyed it just as much, and truly appreciated the physical, emotional closeness, and support.
Your dad will always be with you, all you have to do is look in the mirror to be reminded of that (the Waterman eyes!).
Mark, Claudia, and Anna