Donald J. ‘Don’ Deiter

He was born on June 12, 1940 in Fox County, son to Jessie and Daisy (Burr) Deiter. Don lived an extraordinary life, full of travel, adventure, and can-do spirit. He never knew a challenge he could not overcome or a job too hard. Don was gifted with a warm sense of humor. He had a love of history, mechanics, and a keen sense of observation that lent itself to having conversations with anyone anywhere. Don never met a stranger.

Don and his wife Cindy, had a family friendly, interactive, and loving assisted living care home for 28 years. One of Don’s last passion projects was restoring a historic diner and named it “Dinner Bell.” This endeavor tied two of his favorite past times, cooking and sharing stories with those who came to the diner from distant places.

He instilled in his children that same sense of adventure, travel, and pushing oneself beyond their comfort zone. Don’s advice, “Life is for the living, so get on with it, start a new adventure.”

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Cindy (Couillard) Deiter; children, Ronald J. (Laurie) Deiter, Sally A. (Mark) Hay, and Donald S. (Wendy) Deiter; grandchildren, Stacie Pradmore, Mitchell (Mikela) Deiter, Kyle (Angie) Deiter, Evelyn Hay-Garcia, Ashley (Dustun) Carlsen, Sabra Hay, Charlie Collman, and Zack Collman; and great-grandchildren, Aspen Dooley, Kelsie Pradmore, Sophia Deiter, Kennedy Don Deiter, Knox Deiter, Hayden Carlsen, Abigail Carlsen, Addison Carlsen, and Benjamin Carlsen.

With much appreciation for the friendship, support, and love throughout the years from sisters-in-law, Lorraine (Paul) Zawacki, Anita Couillard, Barbara Bruce, and Carol (Dan) Hupy; brother-in-law, Troy Stebbings, wonderful neighbors, Danny, Shala, Wilder, Matt, Craig and his family; and nephew, Larry Leach for all their selfless acts of kindness.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Ethel (Deiter) Miron, Edmond, Carl and Robert Deiter, Pearl (Deiter) Allard, and Richard “Dickie” Deiter; brothers-in-law, Randy Bruce and Eric (Couillard) Stebbins.

Burial will take place in Gardens of Rest Cemetery on Friday, July 26 at 1 p.m. A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net. The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the family.