Donald A. "Don" Surface

Donald A. “Don” Surface, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away Monday, June 3rd, at the age of 91.

Born on June 30,1932, in Toledo, Ohio, he attended Nathan Hale Elementary School (Class of 1947); Macomber Vocational High School (Class of 1951); earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Toledo (Class of 1956), and served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a 1st Lieutenant. Donald had a successful career in public works engineering at Finkbeiner, Pettis, and Strout, Ltd. followed by service to the City of Oregon, Ohio as its Director of Public Service from 1981 until his retirement in 1994.

In 1954, Don married the love of his life, Barbara, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Temperance, Michigan. They were married for 69 years.

Don lived a life filled with boating as a member of the Toledo Power Squadron where he volunteered as an instructor of safe boating/seamanship classes and participated in the trailer boating group activities. An avid fisherman, Don especially loved walleye and perch fishing on Lake Erie. Don was also a member of the Rondelet Dance Club where he and Barbara enjoyed many evenings of socializing and dancing. Upon retirement, he and Barbara relocated to Bradenton, Florida where he became an avid golfer, beachgoer, and member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 2006 he and Barbara returned home to be closer to family, residing in Temperance, Michigan.

Don always strived to do his best at whatever endeavor he was involved with both professionally and personally. Don was a kind and generous man who will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Bradley Surface (Lisa) – Lambertville, MI; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Surface – Clarkston, MI; grandchildren, Shawn Surface (Savannah) – Belaire, MI., Stephanie Sabounchi (Mutch) - Lexington, KY, Kyle Surface (Katie) – Morgantown, WV, Adam Surface – Lambertville, MI, and Heidi Surface – Tampa, FL; and great-grandchildren, Riley, Teagan, Kennedy, Colby, and Rosie. He was proceeded in death by his parents Leonard C. Surface and Ella M. (Lenz) Surface; son, Jeffrey Surface; and sister, Vivian Humphreys.

The family would like to thank all his caregivers who made his last years more comfortable, Hailey and Jessica Thomas, Sonya Adams, mother-in-law Nancy Cortez, granddaughter Heidi Surface, and niece Lori Beckman as well as the attentive staff at the Hampton Manor of Bedford, Michigan.

Visitation will be on Friday, June 21, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a memorial service immediately following at Newcomer Funeral Home (Northwest Toledo Chapel), 4150 W. Laskey Road, Toledo, Ohio. The interment will be at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society at: https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=search&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaignid=11361949398&utm_adgroupid=117026193771&utm_keyword=american%20cancer%20society&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVJ57cstnuKUuU-DrirQNUuFtsFPbsTZNptZanTiuP43-tAXpESwmdhoCg1sQAvD_BwE