Donald James Reed

Donald James Reed, age 78, of Dimondale, was born September 28, 1947, in Cheboygan, MI, to Floyd A. Reed and Lucille H. Cain, and died January 14, 2026, in Dimondale, MI, surrounded by family. He married Carolyn J. Hunt on June 28, 1975, in DeWitt, MI, having just celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Don had a lifelong love of the outdoors. For many years he was an avid deer hunter and fisherman, loved walking in the woods, birding, and was especially enthused about gardening with Michigan Native Wildflowers, as shown by the many garden areas at his home. He was alternately thrilled and frustrated by the Detroit Tigers, Lions, and the MSU Spartans. For many years, Don and Carolyn attended the MSU Spartans women's basketball games.
Don graduated from J.W. Sexton High School, class of 1965. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. Don supported and helped his wife Carolyn in her various ministries at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, and for that, she is forever grateful for his love and support. Don was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four years ago, had a stroke last September and recently was diagnosed with vascular dementia. He had a triple whammy, which he fought to the end.
Don is survived by his wife, Carolyn; brothers, Steven (Patricia) and Bryan (Barbara) Reed; sisters-in-law, Renita (Michael) Reed-Thomson, Susan Beck, Joyce (Thomas) Wegener; brother-in-law, Allan Hunt; goddaughter and niece, Rebecca (Steven) Lantzy; special niece, Hannah Reed-Koster, who shared his love of Michigan Native Wildflowers gardening, plus several nieces and nephews and their families; aunt, Olga Gardner, special friend since the 7th grade Robert Sheap, and many cousins, especially those who share many memories of growing up on Bogart Street in Lansing.
Don is predeceased by his parents; sister and her husband, Brenda and Dave Beck; brother, Robert Reed; sister and her husband, Sandra and Rick Dingwell; sixteen Reed and Cain aunts and uncles; stepfather, Keith Mosher; in-laws, Robert and Jennie Hunt. A special thank you to the Memory Care Unit staff at the Dimondale Nursing Care Center and the Heart to Heart Hospice of Jackson.
A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, January 19, 2026, 12:00 PM at the Palmer, Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Home, Holt Delhi Chapel, 5035 West Holt Road, Holt, MI, with burial to follow at the Dimondale Cemetery, 5520 North Canal, Dimondale, MI. The family will receive relatives and friends, Monday, January 19, 2026, from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM at the funeral home. A luncheon will be held after the burial, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, in the Parish Family Center, 3815 South Cedar Street, Lansing, MI.
In honor of Don, please wear Detroit Tigers, Lions or MSU Spartans apparel. For those desiring, donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5041, or American Red Cross of Mid-Michigan, Donation Processing Center, P.O. Box 321070,
Detroit, MI 48232-1070.