Donald LEYRER

LEYRER, Donald 51, died unexpectedly while sleeping on Tuesday December 4, 2018. Don was from Hamilton, OH; a graduate from University of Cincinnati with degrees in engineering and Information Technology. Don's career was predominately in insurance IT, but his strength was in finding IT solutions that resolved difficult problems for billion dollar companies around the world. A member of PMI, Agile, Rotary Intl, Don was a respected colleague and mentor to many; his new job at the MI DOT would have started days after his death. Don's relocation to Michigan in 2003 met the goal of getting him closer to the place he loved most: the cottage. During an IT project in 1996, Don met, fell in love with and married Joni, the love of his life. Donster, aka Cap'n Don, was the nucleus of every activity: chef of BBQ/Smoker dinners, pub crawls, boating trips, holiday reunions, bonfires, snowmobiling with Joni hugging him tightly, in recent months bicycling with Joni and friends and working out he was proud of the progress he'd made toward becoming more fit. Don is survived by many friends who are also his family: his wife, Joni; siblings, Barb (son Matt) Hedrick of Middletown OH; Chuck (kids Stephanie, Katherine, Mark) Leyrer of Raleigh SC; David (wife Gina, kids Sam, Jeff, Grace, Anna) Leyrer of Zachary LA; Mike Leyrer of Hamilton OH. Don is preceded in death by his parents Dr. Ralph Sr. and Violet Leyrer; brother, Ralph Leyrer Jr., and Allister the Aussie. It was Don's wish to be cremated. Funeral visitation is Saturday, December 15, 2018 from 11AM 2PM at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508. Following the visitation will be an "Irish wake" from 3PM - 9PM at 84th Street Pub and Grille, 8282 Pfeiffer Farms Dr. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315. Guests are invited to attend this celebration of Don's life and to share the stories (never indicted), photos, memories and future plans. Accommodations at Baymont Inn by Wyndham Grand Rapids SW/Byron Center, 8282 Pfeiffer Farms Dr. SW, Byron Center, MI, where a block of rooms have been reserved. Call 616-583-9353 for reservations. The memorial raft-off is planned for July 27, 2019 at Crooked Lake ATON87. In lieu of flowers, please make generous annual contributions in memory of Donald C. Leyrer to Pickerel-Crooked Lakes Association, PO Box 511, Alanson, MI 49706 and Little Traverse Conservancy & Land Trust, 3264 Powell Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740