of Chelsea, Michigan formerly of Ann Arbor, age 85, died Thursday, June 30, 2016 at his home with his wife and children at his bedside. He was born September 22, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Joseph & Helen (Janus) Zalewski. Donald graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago in 1948. He attended Northwestern University and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1953. Shortly thereafter he met Mary “Gretchen” Goeppel while she was still a student at Northwestern. They were married on May 7, 1955 while Donald was stationed in Pine Bluff, AK during his service with the the US Army in the Korean conflict.
After discharge he earned an MBA from Northwestern University in 1956. Donald worked for over 30 years with Ford Motor Company in locations including Dearborn, Detroit and Sao Paulo, Brazil. He enjoyed sailing for many years and was active in the United States Power Squadron earning the grade of Navigator. Summer sailing trips included Lake Huron to Canada’s North Channel on larger sailboats, with occasional Higgins Lake family cottage weekends and dear friends’ family gatherings in Upper Peninsula Lake Michigan cottages. Donald enjoyed scuba diving and had many opportunities to dive and spear fish in Brazil and in the Bahamas after 1987 when he and Gretchen retired to live on their sailboat, “Teal.” Prior to returning to Michigan in 2010, Donald and Gretchen also lived in Ponce Inlet, FL and North Palm Beach, FL while taking many tours to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the western United States with their Ann Arbor friends.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, John Henry Zale of Dallas, TX; William Joseph (Lisa Helderop) Zale of Portland, OR; a daughter, Susan Elizabeth Zale of Chelsea; five grandchildren, Henry & Elena Zale, Austin, Benjamin, and Catlin Yeasting; two nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Zale, and one niece.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 20, 10:30 am at the Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel, with Rev. Jeff Bradley officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove East Cemetery, Chelsea, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or a charity of choice. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea.