Donald L. Davidson

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. - Donald L. Davidson died during the early hours of Nov. 29, 2016, after more than 100.5 years of good living.

Don was a dedicated husband and father, served his community long and well as a family physician in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and enjoyed many years of his retirement.

Don was born on April 10, 1916, in Shelby, Mich., to parents Frank E. and Nellie L. (Buskirk) Davidson. He graduated from Kalamazoo College and medical school at the University of Michigan.

He and his wife, Laura, who died in 2009, raised their family of six children: Judy (Tom), Lynn, Donald (Christine), Susan (died 1999), Jonelle (Dave) and Jean, in Ramsay, Mich. They watched with pride and enjoyment the lives of their 16 grandchildren (Jennifer and Christopher; Stephanie, Kristin and Jessica; Matt and Griffin; Nik, Laura and Aaron; Aidan and Lena; and Jacob, Kaylee, Brianna and Kahlena); 18 great-grandchildren (Conor and Keira; Alex, Colin and Sophia; Ben, Zach and Maddie; Wyatt, Kolton and Addy; Oliver; Jaxon, Joliet and Juno; Jasmyne and Rylan; and Avery); and three great-great-grandchildren (Cooper, Iyla and Jayda). These children, all, gave him much pleasure. And they adored him.

Don served his country as a medic in World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy under the authority of the Marines. He was physician to many families in the Gogebic Range. As a family doctor he provided all types of care, from house calls to surgery, and sports physicals to convalescent and nursing home care. But his favorite part of medicine was delivering babies. And there were many. He was dedicated and hard working, and enjoyed much about his practice, the people he worked with, and the people he cared for.

Don and Laura enjoyed their retirement years at Lake Gogebic and in Honolulu, where Don volunteered as a docent at the Honolulu Aquarium. They moved together to Rochester, Minn., to enjoy their final years together, residing at Charter House. Don later moved to live with family, and finally to Heart to Home, an assisted living facility in Mendota Heights.

Deep and heartfelt thanks to Heart to Home, and Our Lady of Peace Hospice, for caring for Don these past years and days. The love, kindness, patience, and dedication shown by your staff are a testament to how our loved ones can be cared for. Every kind word, touch, and smile was a blessing.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider Heart to Home, 659 S. Freeway Road, Mendota Heights, MN 55118.

A service for Don will be held at a later date.

Don enjoyed woodworking, painting, reading, and staying fit by running, biking, swimming and walking. He had a great love of the outdoors. He noticed nature's beauty, and enjoyed a good blizzard or thunderstorm.

In years past he enjoyed hunting, walking back roads looking for partridge, or sitting on a favorite stump waiting for a deer. In his last years he was able to appreciate the beautiful trees out his windows, and was entertained by a variety of wildlife.

He was kind and gentle and caring. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He saw the good in people and spoke kindly of them or not at all. He led by example, loved quietly but surely, and showed his strength through his gentle ways. He was dearly loved, and what more or better can be said than that?