Dertien, Donald, CAPT

Donald Alfred Dertien, Captain, U.S. Navy retired, 97, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2015, while at Haven Hospice in Gainesville, FL. Donald was born August 25, 1918, in Muskegon, MI, to Nicholas and Catherine Betz Dertien. A few years after the death of his mother, when he was 6 years old, he and his sister Dorothy went to live with their Aunt Angeline (Auntie) and Uncle Fred LeTart. Auntie and Uncle Fred, together with their father and stepmother, Myrle Latten Dertien, instilled in them the importance of a strong work ethic, personal integrity and education. He attended grade school in Muskegon and graduated from Muskegon Senior High School in 1936. He also earned his Bachelor's degree in 1958 and a Master's degree in 1961, both from George Washington University. After high school, he attended Muskegon Junior College and Tri-State University (Trine University) in Angola, Indiana. While at Muskegon Junior College, Donald was a member of the golf team. He had learned the fundamentals of "that humbling game of golf" as an 11-year old caddie at Muskegon Country Club and he continued to play with family and friends until he was 92. While attending school, he also worked part-time as a blueprint boy at Bennett Pump Co. and Morton Manufacturing Co. Donald was always very grateful to these two companies for providing him these opportunities during the Great Depression. He also worked many other jobs including paperboy, waiter/bartender and hockey rink ice-scraper in order to continue his schooling. At the local ice skating rink, Donald, or Teemy as he was then known, met his future wife and the love of his life, Patricia Marie Fitzpatrick, nicknamed Tish. Donald enlisted in the Navy in 1940, and he was commissioned an ensign in 1941 after successfully completing the Navy's "90-day wonder program" on the USS Arkansas (BB-33). He was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was aboard the USS Farragut (DD-348) when Pearl was attacked. He was stationed on the Farragut until 1943 and was then transferred to another destroyer, the USS Halford (DD-480), until the end of the war. During his wartime service, he was awarded 11 battle stars including Guadalcanal, Wake Island, Coral Sea, Marianas Islands Campaign (Navy Commendation Medal) and Leyte Gulf (Bronze Star with Valor). In his quiet and humble manner, he was proud to have served his country at a crucial time in its history and to have been a Pearl Harbor survivor. The brightest moment during this tumultuous time was when he married Tish on April 6, 1943, at St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA, with shipmates from the USS Halford as the wedding party. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary this past April. After the conclusion of WWII, he returned to Muskegon for a short time only to discover that he missed the Navy and re-enlisted shortly thereafter. His Navy career included tours in Rhode Island, California, Washington, D.C., Japan, Korea and the Panama Canal Zone. He also served on the USS Rodman (DMS 21) and USS Helena (CA-75), and was the commanding officer of the USS Cony (DDE-508), USS Luzon (ARG-2) and USS Graffias (AF-29). In between ship assignments, he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees and was the last Superintendent of the U.S Naval Weapons Plant in Washington, D.C. Near the end of his naval career, he was assigned to the Panama Canal Company in the role of Chief of the Navigation Division. The following year he was promoted to Marine Director, responsible for all direct operations of the canal. In December 1968, he retired from the U. S. Navy after 28 years of distinguished service attaining the rank of Captain in 1962. He launched a second career with the Panama Canal Company, first as the Chief of the Executive Planning Staff then serving as the first civilian Marine Director. During this time he served as a technical advisor in the drafting and negotiation of the Panama Canal Treaty. He retired from the Panama Canal Company in 1976. Don and Tish moved to Titusville, FL, in 1976 where they embraced retirement living with many other fellow Canal Zone friends. But in a short time their friendly and outgoing personalities led them to many new friends. They cherished their time in Titusville with friends, traveling, playing golf and tennis and visiting grandkids. From the time Don was a literacy tutor in 1937 with the CCC, he cultivated a passion for volunteer work. Retirement gave him the opportunity to engage in volunteer activities including the Military Officers Association of America, the Red Cross and others. It was during Don's involvement with MOAA that he found a new pastime that he both enjoyed and felt honored to do. He assisted surviving spouses with every detail during the difficult time after losing a loved one. He did such an outstanding job he became the primary person people called when the need arose. He embraced this service with the sincerest concern, respect and humility the remainder of his life and along the way inspired many others. In addition to all of the time Don and Tish contributed, they also helped in the funding for the construction of 5 Catholic churches in various communities where they lived. In 1992, Don and Tish moved to the Indian River Colony Club in Viera, FL. They continued to play golf and tennis, travel, volunteer and visit with family and friends. Don remained active with MOAA and also became a tax counselor for the AARP Tax-Aide program. They moved to Ocala, FL, in 2006 and in 2011, they moved to Gainesville where they resided at The Village. They continued to arrange family gatherings with their kids and grandkids and true to their nature, they also befriended a new group of people. He is survived by his wife Tish of 72 years, son Paul (Kathy) of Jonestown, TX, son James (Karen) of Balboa, Panama, daughter Patricia (Gary) of Gainesville, FL, son Joseph of La Crosse, WI, 11 grandchildren, and 10 exuberant and wildly entertaining great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his cousin Fran LeTart Wickstrom, half-sister Doris Dertien Williamson, nephew Robert Shatney (Judy) and niece Patricia Baker (Bob) all of Muskegon, MI. He was preceded in death by his sister Dorothy Dertien Shatney, brother-in-law Harry Shatney, uncle Fred LeTart, aunt Angeline LeTart, cousin Harold LeTart, cousin Eloise LeTart Eddy and half-brother Douglas Dertien. The Dertien family would like to thank the staffs of The Village and Haven Hospice for their compassionate and sincere care. We are grateful for their kindness and service in supporting and assisting our father. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Faith Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m., October 30, 2015, in honor of our loving husband, gracious father and loyal shipmate and friend. A memorial service will take place at 10 am November 2, 2015, at The Village, in Gainesville, FL, followed by a 1:30 pm graveside service at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. For those who wish to make a memorial remembrance, the family requests that a donation be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund or to the charity of their choice .