Donald "Don" Robison

Don often spoke of his life growing up in his tumbleweed Missouri hometown with his 6 siblings, John, Ken, Rock, James, Ruth Ann and Carol Sue. Work brought his parents, and Don later at 15, to Lansing, Michigan. One month after turning 17, he enlisted in the US Marines and served in the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged in Oct 1952, obtaining the rank of Sergeant. He soon met his future wife and her 3 children (Judy, Ron and Elizabeth) and married on 1/14/1954. In July 1955, another daughter, Connie, was added to their family. He later adopted his other children.

Don, a General Motors retiree, was a skilled tradesman and later a skilled trades instructor at the GM school. He was very active in labor rights and held top and District committeeman positions at UAW local 652 where he assisted in the negotiation of union contracts and served as a delegate at county and state democratic conventions. In his younger days, he also worked as a police officer for the city of Mason, MI.

Don was a voracious reader and was continuously rotating books with his friends. He always joked that he wanted to be buried in his PJs with a good book. He was a member of the Lansing Masonic Lodge 33 and the VFW. Upon retiring, he purchased a motor home and travelled for several years. Until his health failed, he lived in Dimondale, MI and was the family's dog sitter. He was loved by these creatures for the many trips they made to the refrigerator.

He is survived by his daughters, Judy Robison and Elizabeth (Ken) Vandecar; and grandchildren Nicole (Kevin) Spica, Douglas Vandecar and Matthew Vandecar. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Reva (Jensen) Robison; son, Ron; daughter, Connie Wigman; and his wife's first born, Gloria Jean Jensen.

A special thanks to his neighbor and good friend, Terry Wilkes, for the emotional and physical support he provided during don's declining health. Visitation will be at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel, 900 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing on Saturday, May 16, 2015 from 1pm to 4 pm. Interment will be private.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorials and Tributes Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.

Online condelences may be expressed at www.grlansing.com.