Donald Stanley Temrowski

Donald S. Temrowski, age 79 of Warren, Michigan and Marco Island, Florida, died Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at Naples Community Hospital in Naples, Florida. Don fully expected to zip into the hospital, have his heart valve replaced, and return to his winter home on Marco Island for his recuperation,...however God had other plans for Him. Don was born September 27, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, son of the late Stanley Temrowski and the late Irene (nee: Andrysiak) Temrowski. He was raised on the eastside of Detroit on Lantz Street, the "Polish Grosse Pointes." Don attended Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic grade school and later Windsor's Assumption Catholic All Boys Preparatory and Boarding School, graduating the class of 1953. Don initially thought that he would follow his father and mother into Pharmacology and attended Detroit Institute of Technology studying pharmacy. However, after attending a family member's funeral, Don matriculated to a new calling in funeral service. Don transferred to Wayne State University to study Mortuary Science and worked while in school for the Jerome DeSantis Funeral Home in Detroit. He later graduated from Wayne State, the class of 1957, and became a Mortician working, and actually living with his new wife, at the DeSantis Funeral Home. Never one to be complacent, Don was always searching for bigger, better, and new learning experiences. He moved his talents on to the Ira Kaufman Chapel in Detroit, and later Southfield where he was mentored by the acclaimed Jewish Funeral Director, Ira Kaufman himself. Ira took a fond liking to Don and convinced the young man, with so much energy and talent, that he should become a funeral home owner. Don established the Donald S. Temrowski Funeral Home in Detroit just north of his father's drug store on Van Dyke Avenue. The funeral home's first year was a success and Don never looked back...he found his love and passion. It was the beginning of a success story that would eventually touch many thousands of lives over the years. Always seeking to be on the cutting edge, and being the forward-thinker he was, it was six years later that Don moved he and his family to the bustling bedroom community of Warren and settled on the northwest corner of Hoover & Common roads. What began as a simple ranch home eventually blossomed into the facility that stands today, a business that Mr. Temrowski opened in 1973. Yet as diligently as he planned and as hard as he worked, Don didn't do it alone. As the old adage states; "behind every successful man is a supportive woman,"…and her name is Beverly. Through thick & thin, lean & hearty, and everything in between, it was his bride and helpmate that made it all come to fruition. Theirs was a union that ran like a swiss timepiece, a marriage that truly worked well within their strengths and weaknesses. Following the courtship period, it was on February 8, 1958, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores, that Donald & Beverly promised themselves in marriage and began the journey that would lead them through the blessings of six children and a thriving business. Life is never easy for anyone and was certainly not for Don and Bev. The two began their honeymoon with a plane crash, and fortunately survived. Therefore, both realized God had a plan…a longer plan for both. As their Warren roots began to spread and their new funeral home lay poised for touching lives, once again, Don's entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and out to the community he went. Seemingly, there wasn't a soul who didn't know the name, Don Temrowski. One of the venues where that familiarity was born came through the community seminars that Don hosted. Tackling tough issues of the day, Don's message was both provocative and helpful and made a difference in countless lives. Along with the various forms of community outreach Don was noted for, there were also the many business and professional associations that he was proud to be a part of, to include; Past President & Member of the Michigan Funeral Director's Association (MFDA) District 6, Past President & Member of the Warren Kiwanis Club, Member, by invitation only, to the Selected Independent Funeral Homes, Membership in both the Knights of Columbus and the American-Polish Century Club,…and from more of a fun element came his memberships with the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and the Island Country Club in Marco Island, Florida. When Donald wasn't working, he was never far from the funeral home. He cherished his time aboard his boat the "Eagles Nest," named for his other love, his time-share condominium on Marco Island where he would get away in the Winter months. Don's focus outside of work was the success of his family and grandchildren which he never lost sight of. His two favorite sayings to his children and grandchildren were, "BEHAVE", and "Don't shame the name." He was very proud of everyone in the family whether he told you or not. He was the beloved husband, of 56 years, to Beverly (nee: Climie) Temrowski, and is the dear father of Ann Baker, Daniel (Julie) Temrowski, Carol (Dr.Timothy) Duffin, Mary (Thomas) Carroll, David (Sandra) Temrowski, and Kenneth (Becca) Temrowski. Loving Papa of Katie, Mathew, Mikael, Lana, Jack, Kyle, Ryan, Bridget, Andrew, Elizabeth, Sean, Benjamin, Kelly, William, Tate, Maty, Shea, Weston and Ryder. Brother of Marilyn (Dr. Robert) McDonald, and James (Gretchen) Temrowski. Visitation for Mr. Temrowski will be held on Sunday, November 16th from 2-9pm, with a 7pm Rosary, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Road). He will lie in state on Monday, November 17th, 11am at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, 31555 Hoover Road in Warren until time of his Funeral Mass at 11:30am. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan. Memorial donations are appreciated to St. Paul of the Cross Retreat House, 23333 Schoolcraft Ave., Detroit, Michigan, 48223 Please share your memory of Don at "Leave a Memory" above.