Donald J. Ries

Donald J. Ries, age 94, of Tecumseh, passed away January 16, 2015, at Cambrian Assisted Living under the care of Hospice of Lenawee. Donald was born July 26, 1920, on the family farm (Fike Road) in Ogden Twp., Mich., the son of Dewey and Leila (Leonard) Ries. He was a 1938 graduate of Blissfield High School and a member of the original Sugarboys football team. While attending Army Air Corp flight school in Alva, Okla., he married the love of his life, Marilyn Lair Plank, on June 24, 1944. At the end of the war he returned to Michigan, building a home for his ready made family in Adrian. In 1952 they moved to the farm in Britton where they lived for 38 years. He partnered with his son and had a successful hog operation. Upon his retirement from farming and the Tecumseh Products they moved to their home in Trevares, Fla., and returned home to Michigan in 2006.Donald is survived by his children; Kenneth (Sylvia) Plank of Britton and Marilyn (John) Swanston of Macon; six grandchildren, Jackie (Mike) Fagan of Jackson, Daphne Brown of Tecumseh, Heather (Dan) Harriott of Pensacola, Fla., Donna (Eric) Johnson of Adrian, Melinda Brown of Adrian and Brenda (Scott) Walker of Crossville, Tenn.; 17 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; sister, Katherine (Gale) Carter of Metamora, Ohio; brother, Max Ries and many nieces and nephews.In addition to his wife, Marilyn, Donald was preceded in death by his parents; two grandsons; one great-grandson and three brothers, Harold, Jack and Roger.Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at Grace United Methodist Church, Britton with Rev. Mark Zender officiating. Burial followed in Ridgeway Cemetery with military honors performed by the Tecumseh American Legion Post No. 34 and Tecumseh VFW Post No. 4187. Visitation was from 3-8 p.m. Sunday at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh with a Masonic service by Tecumseh Masonic Lodge No. 69 F.&A.M. beginning at 6:30 p.m. There was also one hour of visitation before the service at the church on Monday.Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Methodist Church Furnace Fund. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.