Donald Pennell

Donald Laverne Pennell of Rochester Hills (Walled Lake), age 91, passed away peacefully at the home of his son and daughter-in-law in Akron on Wednesday, November 27, 2019. Donald was born September 25, 1928 in Walled Lake, one of eleven children born to the late Frank Lewis and Elva May (Geistler) Pennell. All eleven children were born and raised in the Walled Lake/Wixom area. Donald always spoke fondly of life on the farm and having a large family. He proudly served his country with the U.S. Air force for four years during the Korean War. Don was united in marriage with the former Janet Jean Bouck, and she preceded him in death in 2000. He owned several businesses including several milk trucks, laundromat/dry cleaners, floor covering, but by far his favorite job was school bus driver for Rochester Community Schools. It was never a job for him, and he enjoyed his daily route, but most of all he loved field trips with the sports teams. He retired with twenty-one years of service in August of 1991. Don went on to spend the next twenty-eight years of his retirement working as a starter at Pine Knob and at Fieldstone Golf Courses for eleven years. He enjoyed sports, playing cards, and since 1995 spending his winter months in Bradenton, Florida at the Bradenton Tropical Palms Mobile Home Park with his wife until her passing, and then with his lady friend, Judy Schroder, from 2005 to 2017 when he could no longer go due to health concerns . Donald is the loving father of Kelly Ann McCleskey and her husband, Rick, of West Chicago and Kirk Michael Pennell and his wife, Lorie, of Akron; grandfather to Izabelle Jean Pennell and George Russell Pennell, both of Rochester Hills, Rich Turner and wife, Carmen of Zeeland, Michael Turner of Homestead, Florida, and Ryan McCleskey of Marysville; great-grandfather to Richie, Kelly and Jacob Turner; three sisters, Florence Sariscany of Gaylord, Marilyn Dicks of Milford, Nancy Buffmyer of Keego Harbor; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Don Ault officiating. Military honors under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force and Caro American Legion Post #7 will follow the service. The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday December 7, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Visitation Information Date: Saturday, December 7, 2019 Time: 11:00 am End Time: 2:00 pm Ransford Collon Funeral Home Address: 989-673-2175 | Map The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday December 7, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Service Information Date: Saturday, December 7, 2019 Time: 2:00 pm Ransford Collon Funeral Home Address: 989-673-2175 | Map Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Don Ault officiating. Military honors under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force and Caro American Legion Post #7 will follow the service.