Donald James Carlyon

Donald James Carlyon
Donald James Carlyon passed peacefully on May 26, 2025, a World War II veteran going home on Memorial Day.
He was born in Chambers, NE on August 14, 1924, to a Methodist minister Dr. Richard Carlyon and Ruth (Wolters) Carlyon. In World War II, he served in the Merchant Marines, facing the war's highest casualty rate. Back in Nebraska, he married his cherished Betty Hunley. After stints in the Highway Patrol and as a lay minister in rural churches, he graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1951. A job as administrator there led to work at what is now the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Then he took a giant leap in 1960, moving his young family of five children to Michigan, to become business manager, and the third employee, of a new school without students yet, Delta College.
He became Delta's president in 1964. Through his tenure until 1992, he worked to achieve three aims, serve the students and communities; foster a family atmosphere that encompassed students, faculty and staff; and seek innovations that would reinforce that service and sense of the Delta family. A visionary, he led Delta College to national renown. Practical, he balanced budgets and made sure the taxpayers' money was used efficiently. A leader, he picked good men and women and let them do what they do best.
Retirement provided more opportunities to serve the communities. He was President of the Saginaw General Hospital Foundation (1995-1999) and Executive Director of Covenant HealthCare Foundation. He was particularly proud of his major role in three Bay County projects, revival of Battery Park; generating financial support for the Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library; and a sculpture of Rotary Founder Paul Harris. Meanwhile, he continued long-time service with Bay City's State Theater, the Downtown Development Authority (longest-serving member), the Wirt Library board (longest-serving member, twice president), Delta Planetarium, Bay City Rotary (64 years), Torch Club (54 years), the Saginaw Symphony (54 years), the Girl Scout Board, and Bay City in Bloom.
He always remained devoted to his Nebraska Cornhuskers, his cowboy boots, belt buckles, and vast lion collection.
Preceded in death by his beloved Betty in 2018, he is survived by children and spouses, Jan (Carlyon) and Ron Braeutigam, Dave Carlyon, Suzie Carlyon, Scott and Michelle (Courtney) Carlyon, and Rick Carlyon, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Two funds continue his service to the Delta community, the Donald J. and Betty Carlyon Endowed Teaching Chair, the school's first, and the Donald J. and Betty Carlyon Memorial Scholarship Endowment.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church, 805 Center Avenue, Bay City, MI 48708. The Rev. Brenna Overland and the Rev. Andreas Teich will officiate. The family will greet friends at the Penzien-Steele Funeral Home, 608 N. Madison Ave., Bay City, MI 48708 on Friday, July 18, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday at a reception following the service.