Donald Prus

Donald Marvin Prus, age 88 of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away peacefully on September 18, 2022 after a valiant battle with end stage kidney disease, enduring dialysis for over four years. Don died just nine days after his partner in life, best friend, and first wife Marilyn Prus. He is also preceded in death by his parents Marvin Stephen and Bertha Elizabeth (Paslosta) Prus, his three brothers Richard, Jim (Carol), and, Bob Prus, sisters-in-law Marilyn and Mary Ellen Prus, his son Patrick Prus, and his second wife Jackie (Boone) Prus.

Donald leaves behind his brother Ken Prus, sister-in-law Maureen, his eight children: David (Patricia) Prus, Teresa (David) Olee, Donna (Roy) Schmidt, Linda (James Steigmeyer) Prus, Michael (Eileen) Prus, Marcia Prus, Joseph (Tasha) Prus, Shelia Prus, and daughter-in-law Loraine Jenkins. He also leaves behind his step-daughter JoAnne Rios, step-son Vance Peck, and their children who he welcomed as his own. Don will be missed by his 13 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews whose success he thought was a measure of his life.

Don was the oldest of four boys, and was an industrious young man who worked various side jobs to earn money. He helped his dad in the butcher shop, where his love for meat and cooking began. Don graduated from Catholic Central High School and joined the army, shortly thereafter married his first love, and then shipped off to Germany. He was a sharp recruit who was placed in the morse code division where he decoded intercepted foreign transmissions. Turning down an option to stay in a high-profile position, he and his wife returned to Grand Rapids where they raised their large family.

Don had a prolific career in publishing, serving as a type setter for the Grand Rapids Herald, Grand Rapids Press, and spent 30 years at Eerdmans Publishing Company. Don witnessed the transition of type setting technology from lead to computers and was instrumental in helping his companies succeed.

When he wasn’t working, he was an active father and friend, he enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, football, watching the Tigers, playing cards, and gardening (especially tomatoes). Don was a man of faith and followed various traditions, serving as a youth leader and member of the catholic church. He loved a classy dinner party and cooking, and his famous family recipe for polish sausage is argued to be the best on the west side.

His wit was the sharpest around even in the end. Don was very generous and loving and it is hard to summarize his life in a few words. Per Donald’s wishes, cremation has taken place and celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

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