Donald Lee Reisig

Leland

Donald was born on December 16, 1934, in Parma, Michigan, to school teacher parents, Victor A. and Bernice Reisig, and died on Friday, October 21, 2016 in Charlotte, MI.

Donald grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan, where he won a Whirlpool Corporation academic scholarship, and thereafter attended both Northwestern University and the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, and the University of Michigan Law School. Upon law school graduation in 1958 he commenced his legal career in Lansing, MI as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Donald, thereafter in the 1960s served consecutively as Chief Asst. Prosecuting Attorney, Lansing City Attorney, Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney, and Ingham County Circuit Judge (30th Circuit), and was often referred to by friends and colleagues as the "boy wonder" of Ingham County politics. While serving as Prosecuting Attorney, Donald found time to write two treatises and a number of articles on emerging criminal law and procedure issues, as well as other topics. He was a frequent speaker before civic and bar related groups on law and law related topics. During this time he also served as a visiting professor and lecturer as the MSU School of Criminal Justice and the newly formed Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

In 1976, Donald entered private practice with the law firm of Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton, McIntyre and Reisig; however his public service was not over. Between 1988/9 he served as President of the State Bar of Michigan. In 1989 he was asked by then Governor James Blanchard to serve as Michigan Director of Drug Agencies. In 1995, upon the fall of the Iron Curtain, at the request of the American Bar Association, he served as a legal liaison to the former Soviet countries of Ukraine and Georgia to assist in converting the legal systems of those newly independent states to the rule of law.

In 1996, Donald again left retirement to become Director of Legal Affairs for the Central Michigan Legal Services Agency, serving to meet the needs of the indigent in obtaining essential legal services. Thereafter, he was asked by the Judges of the 30th Judicial Circuit to serve as administrator of the newly created Juvenile Division of the court which included responsibilities as Friend of the Court where he served until 2007.

Donald is survived by his wife, Carol Ann Keyes Reisig; three children, Chris Ward Reisig (Rory) of Williamston, Deborah Engstrom (Mark) of Okemos, and Charles Reisig of Tucson, AZ; four grandchildren, Daniel Viaches (Laura) of Indianapolis, IN, Matthew Viaches (Lisa) of Carmel, IN, Kristi Viaches of New York City and Dalton Reisig of Tucson, AZ; stepchildren, Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing, Elizabeth Geraghty of New York, Richard Whitmer Jr. of Lansing, Kristin M. Pierce of Mason, and Kimberly M. Patterson (Joseph Titlebaum) of Port Aransas, TX; and step-granddaughter, Lauren Pierce. Also surviving are three dear great-grandchildren, James, Adam and Ava.

Don was a kind, generous and humorous man. His legal tactics were brilliant and he was known for his diligent attention to detail and his ability to wait out his opponent. His contributions to the legal field were many and significant.

A devoted family man, Don was an avid U of M Alumni and fan, a world traveler and classical music connoisseur. He enjoyed the Leland sunsets while sipping local wine and discussing global politics.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. His family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday until service time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Palliative Care, 2675 S. Cochran Rd., Charlotte, MI 48813 or the National Parkinson Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131, www.parkinson.org.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lansing State Journal from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Reisig

Sponsored by Estes-Leadley Funeral Home - Lansing.

10 Entries

BARRY K. DAMON

October 31, 2016

DON WAS A GOOD MAN. I PRAY THAT HE REST IN THE ARMS OF GOD, AND BE FONDLY REMEMBERED BY ALL. MAY GOD COMFORT HIS LOVED ONES, AND WATCH OVER THEM. REST IN PEACE, MY FRIEND.

Susan (Walker) Tigner

October 29, 2016

My sincerest condolescenes to Don's family. I always appreciated him as an astute lawyer, and friend. When he went to Ukraine, I told him I wanted to go there and open up an orphanage. He looked at me funny, but said yes, there is a need, and he always had so much on his plate. I miss him, and wish I had been able to see him more often. My father, Bruce E. Walker, MD PhD, Professor at MSU, died in 2007 from Parkinson's, and he was in hospice. It was very helpful, and he was pushing it right til the end. Rest In Peace, Don!

Otto Stockmeyer

October 28, 2016

I first encountered Don when he ran for Prosecutor in 1964. He had a booth at the county fair and was passing out slices of watermelon. It worked, he was elected, and off he went to become judge, drug czar, and much more. Along the way, he was among the pioneering professors who taught the first entering class at Cooley Law School.

Mark Farhat

October 28, 2016

To the Reisig family.My condolences of the passing of Mr.Reisig.He was a great person as he was the professional he was in the legal field.We had many great times with him and your family growing up.He will be missed.

Richard Guilford

October 25, 2016

Don was Assistant Prosecutor when I arrived in Lansing in 1967, and he interviewed me for a job in his shop, a contact that was the beginning of a long relationship. I observed Don with admiration in all of his roles over the years. He was never taken with himself or his accomplishments. His sense of humor allowed him the space to appreciate others and the world around him. He was truly a superior lawyer and a great and good person, of whom his family can take great pride.

Ted Eck

October 24, 2016

Don was always my favorite uncle, but I came to know him well as his room-mate on a several week-long goodwill tour behind the Iron Curtain in 1975. I was an 18 year old bound for U of Michigan, but I learned far more about the world from Uncle Don than I would later in my classes at Ann Arbor. I enjoyed his wit, his good-nature and his acute knowledge of history and politics which made our travels together the experience of a lifetime. Don was not just a good man, he was a great man and I will miss him, until we meet again.

Harry Moxley

October 24, 2016

Don was a mentor, and a friend, and a role model, and an advocate. We should all celebrate Don's life as one well lived, and to the fullest, and I will always remember and appreciate him. The world is a better place having had him in it.

Harry Moxley

Steve & Julie DeBoer

October 23, 2016

Don was a great man, attorney and friend! A man you could trust with a brilliant legal mind. We willl never forget his kindness and legal assistance. MSPTA is what it is today because on Don. He will always be an honorary Trooper.

John Boyd

October 23, 2016

Don was a fine lawyer and a great mentor, with a great sense of humor....a kind, caring and quick individual. His contributions and talents will be missed.

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