Following graduation Don attended Central Michigan University for one year. He married Marcia Doorn in May 1968.   He was drafted into the Army in 1968 and served in Viet Nam for one year.  After he returned home he worked as a brick and stone mason and began building homes and working in commercial construction as well.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman and after several years in the building industry became co-partner in Newaygo Rod and Gun, a sports shop that sold hunting and fishing equipment.  After he and  Marcia were divorced, he  relocated to Newaygo and lived there until his death on March 23, 1996.  Don had two children, Chandra born in April 1974 and Eric born in September 1976.  He lived long enough to become a grandfather to his first grandchild, Amber born in March 1994.  After his death, 5 additional grandchildren were born.  His daughter Chandra has 3 children, Amber, Ashlyn and Cameron and his son Eric has 3 children, Kailee, Alexis and Brooklyn.