Darwin J. Asa

ASA, Darwin J., of Cheboygan, Michigan, formerly of Flint and Mt. Morris Township, a much loved and cherished husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, peacefully passed away March 29, 2025 at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital, with his family by his side.
Darwin was born in Flint, Michigan, March 21, 1943 the only child of Roy F. and Ruth E. (Smith) Asa. He was a 1961 graduate of Flint Central High School and furthered his education at Flint Junior College prior to becoming a 38-year journeyman-millwright with General Motors.
Darwin was a true and ultimate outdoorsman who preferred the quiet solitude of silent sports either in the woods or on the water. His skills and talents in woodworking, blacksmithing, custom knife creations, gunsmithing, leatherwork, fly fishing, and fly tying were well known and admired for their exceptional quality and attention to precise details. What he accomplished, was done with a quiet determination to do things the right way, and done wearing a special choice of hats he so loved with his favorite ever present pipe that rarely left his mouth. All of these skills, traits, and a love of the outdoors were passed on by example to his children.
When Darwin and Barbara (Chiavaras), whom he had a profound love for and called his sweet princess, were married, true to their mutual love of the outdoors, they did so by paddling canoes and marrying in the Canadian wilderness of the Quetico Provincial Park. They were the first to do so since the establishment of the area 75 years prior. Then, true to their faith, they returned and celebrated a second small family wedding at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Flint, Michigan.
The essence of the man Darwin was, is of an absolutely righteous friend that influenced many with his soft-spoken wisdom and life lessons. He was always a gentleman first. If he called you friend, you became family. When you received the special wink and experienced the twinkle in his eye, you knew you were loved.
As an only child, Darwin felt blessed that his marriage gave him Alexis and Michael Kus and Jim and Kimberly Chiavaras as siblings and not merely in-laws.
Darwin leaves behind his wife, Barbara; children, Dr. Darwin J. (Cheryl) Asa, Jr., Scott A. Asa,
Dr. Cheralyn M. Asa, and Michael D. (Kimberly) Keen; grandchildren, Azure L. (Russ) Levy, Zachary C. Asa, Marissa Asa, and Mallory Asa; great-grandchildren, Ayden R. Beckwith, Owen F. Beckwith, and Lily A. Levy; siblings-in-law, Alexis and Michael A. Kus, and Dr. James P. and Kimberly A. Chiavaras.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Darwin J. Asa to Northern Michigan Animal Rescue Network, P. O. Box 165, Topinabee, Michigan 49791, 231-238-7297, http://www.nmarn.org or Shelter Angels, P. O. Box 254, Linwood, Michigan 48634, 989-980-3106, shelterangelsinc@gmail.com or Venmo Kathleen Hacker@shelterangelsinc.org
REMEMBER ME
To the living, I am gone,
To the sorrowful, I will never return.
But to the happy, I am at peace,
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.
So as you stand upon a shore gazing at a beautiful
sea – remember me.
As you look in awe at a mighty forest and its
grand majesty – remember me.
As you look upon a flower and admire its
simplicity – remember me.
Remember me in your heart,
Your thoughts, and your memories
Of the times we loved,
The times we cried,
The times we laughed.
For if you always think of me, I will never have
gone. - M. Mead
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