Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Steele, Donald MacDonald January 13, 1939 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net June 26, 2010, 6:27 pm The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Friday, January 13, 1939 Donald MacDonald Steele, 51, former Ionia city clerk and treasurer, and until recently an Ionia city justice of the peace, died at 1:30 a.m. Friday at his home, 136 High Street. He had been confined to bed for the past three months, and has been in ill health for 12 years. He was taken to Howell sanatorium three months ago, but was returned to his home here when it was discovered treatment could not be administered successfully. A former newspaper editor and an ardent student of literature and politics, Donald Steele was possessed of a friendly nature toward his fellow citizens. He was a student of political trends and a lifelong democrat, although he held a position as county auditor during the republication administration of former Governor Fred W. Green. It was during his work as a state auditor that his failing health forced his retirement from active work. He attempted to regain his failing health during the several years that followed, and accepted appointment of justice of the peace in 1934 to succeed the late Robert Beard, his former employer. In 1911, during the first year of the mayorship of Harvey E. Kidder, Steele was elected city clerk, a position he held for three years until 1915, when the office of clerk was abolished and the duties of the office combined with those of the treasurer. He was then elected treasurer, and continued in office until April 1920. Born August 27, 1881, in the home where he died, he was the son of Michael Loren Steele and Jessie J. Mitchell Steele. He attended the Ionia public schools and in high school participated in athletics, being a member of the baseball and football teams. He was an ardent bowler, following his high school study. Upon leaving high school he was employed in the offices of the Ionia Daily Standard, and after a short time became interested in politics, and left that office to seek election as city clerk. Completing his term in the city hall he again entered newspaper work and was employed by the Mt. Pleasant Enterprise as foreman, and then became editor and general manager of the Clio Messenger. For a short time he was a state census employee. He was appointed justice of the peace by former Mayor N. J. Spaulding in 1934, a position h held until his retirement. Surviving is his mother, Mrs. Jessie J. Mitchell Steele, and a sister, Miss Mary M. Steele, both of Ionia. Funeral services will be held from the home, 136 High Street, Monday afternoon, January 16, at 2 o’clock with interment at Highland Park cemetery. The Rev. A. J. Westmaas, pastor of the Ionia Presbyterian church, will officiate. Subsequent Publication: Tuesday, January 17, 1939 Funeral services for Donald MacDonald Steele, former Ionia city clerk and treasurer and justice of the peace, who died Friday, were held at his home, 136 High street Monday at 2 p.m. Rev. A. J. Westmaas, pastor of the Presbyterian church, officiated. Temporary interment was in the Highland Park mausoleum. Pallbearers were Alfred Nichols, Charles Morse, Roy Weber, Martin McNamara, R. N. Stevenson and Erwin Redemsky, all of Ionia. Attending the services from out of town was Mrs. Alex McDonnell of Detroit. Flowers were in charge of Mrs. Mrytelle Peck and Mrs. Roy Weber. Interment will be made in the spring in the family lot at Highland Park cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/s/steele6092nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb