Randall McDonnell

McDonnell, Randall 5/16/1937 - 1/21/2015 Ann Arbor Piano player, chess enthusiast, linguist and servant of our lord Jesus Christ, Randall George McDonnell died peacefully January 21, 2015 after several months of failing health. Ran was born May 16, 1937 in Prescot England. He was stationed in Hong Kong where he served three years in the Royal Air Force. Ran was a professor of English at several Universities in Toyohashi, Japan. He moved to the states in 1986 and was a translator of Japanese at Lenawee Stamping and Nissan Motor Co.(retired). Ran loved classical music, a good cup of coffee and the company of dogs and cats. He suffered the loss of his first wife Joyce(Jo) Radcliff and son James with exceptional strength and dignity. Ran loved and adored both wives (Jo and Esther), his son James, daughter-in-law Harumi and granddaughter Yuri. He was dad and grandpa to his step children Geoffrey Foster Sr., Eileen (Foster) Bigham and Marybelle Foster and step-grandchildren, Thetis Bigham, Chris Bigham, Stefon Bigham , David Bigham , Daniel Bigham, Chavonna Bigham , Arman Khodaei, Kyle Khodaei, Edward Khodaei, Geoffrey Foster Jr., and Jodie Foster. A man of great faith, Ran was a member of St. Luke's Ann Arbor where he attended the traditional service regularly. Ran was preceded in death by father William McDonnell, mother Winifrede (Hill) McDonnell, brother Julian McDonnell, wife (Jo)Joyce (Radcliff) McDonnell, and son James McDonnell. He is survived by sister Monica (McDonnell) Lamont of Wales, daughter-in-law Harumi McDonnell of Tokyo, granddaughter Yuri McDonnell of Kobe, Japan, wife Esther (Kinney) McDonnell of Ypsilanti, and the aforementioned step children and grandchildren. There will be a memorial service Sat., January 31, 2015 10:00AM at St. Luke's Ann Arbor. A second memorial will be held Tues., April 28, 2015 at the Watertown Bible Church, Millington, Mi. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Luke's (special missionary fund) or BSF Revelation Scholarship fund www.bsfinternational.org will be accepted in Ran's name. An online guest book is available through Borek-JenningsFuneral Home, Hamburg, MI for friends and family to leave messages.