Donald August Lindow

Grosse Pointe Woods resident, Donald August Lindow, 96, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 surrounded by loved ones. Mr. Lindow was a retired chairman of Michigan Mutual Insurance Company (now Amerisure) where he was employed for over 70 years. He was also a former president of the Detroit Athletic Club. He was born to Wesley and Ida Lindow in Detroit on Easter Sunday, April 23, 1916. After graduating from Eastern High School in 1933, Mr. Lindow met his future wife, Helen, and several treasured friends while studying at Wayne State University. He began his career in 1935 as a part-time employee in the accounting department of what was then known as Michigan Mutual Liability Company. He took a leave of absence to join the U.S. Navy in 1942 and was sent for training at Harvard Business School. During World War II he spent four years as a Navy supply officer assigned to an amphibious base in Coronado, California and the Pacific Theatre where he attained the rank of lieutenant. After his return to Michigan in 1946, he progressively rose through the underwriting and special risk departments at Michigan Mutual to eventually become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He served for 21 years as a member of the Amerisure Board of Directors with an additional 20 years as Director Emeritus. His exemplary 70 years of service is believed to be the longest period of such contributions in a single U.S. insurance company. In 1950 he was among the early individuals to receive the national designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and he later became a national president and treasurer of the organization. He was also a significant contributor to numerous civic, church, charitable and community organizations in the greater Detroit metropolitan area. These included President, Detroit Historical Society; Vice Chairman, Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce; Director, Michigan State Chamber of Commerce; President, Civic Searchlight; Vice President, United Foundation; Director, Michigan Metro Girl Scouts; Vice President, American Lung Association of Southeastern Michigan. Mr. Lindow was a passionate athlete, gardener, and loved lakes and oceans. He was a longtime member of the Detroit Athletic Club, Gowanie Golf Club, the Country Club of Detroit, and Crescent Sail Yacht Club. He spent many winters in Delray Beach, Florida. Mr. Lindow was predeceased by his beloved wife, Helen, and is survived by his children, Marcia (Denis) Stevens, Judy Adams, Donald (Erica) and Nancy (Philip) Wolf. He was the proud grandfather of Amy (Darrin) Gourlay, Jennifer (Jon) Cohen, Deborah (Matt) Simcik, Marc (Meagan) Adams, Jeffrey (Jeanna) Adams, Timothy (Vanessa) Lindow, Amanda Lindow, Hannah (Michael) Schmidt, Alexander Wolf and Nathan Wolf, the adoring great-grandfather of 16 and dear friend of the late Betty Niemetta and her family. A celebration of his life will be held Friday, January 11, 2013 at 3:00pm at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms. Memorial contributions may be made to the Detroit Historical Society or the Belle Isle Conservancy

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe Woods

20705 Mack

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236