Donald J. Howson

God Bless Donald J. Howson, a Sault Ste. Marie resident since 1946, who died peacefully at home on Friday, November 12, 2010. Born in Rudyard, Michigan December 19, 1918, he was 91. He was a graduate of Rudyard High School, employed as General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of Cloverland Oil Company, Inc., a member of Rotary, Elks Lodge and the Chippewa County Board of Supervisors. He was a long term member of the First United Presbyterian Church of the Sault. Howson's efforts at Cloverland Oil Company aided in the building of the Poe Lock. Howson served honorably in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He was the first of two Americans to step ashore in Nagasaki, Japan after the United States dropped the second atomic bomb that ended World War II and was present to see General MacArthur board the U.S.S. Missouri to sign the peace treaty with Japan ending the war. Prior to his naval service he served in the U.S. Army before being called home to the Rudyard farm and was a civilian contractor building secret airfields in Greenland to prepare the United States for entry in to the European Theater. Donald was the loving husband of Edith Howson (Zryd) of the Sault, and loving father to sons Joel Howson and wife Linda Howson of Cleveland, Ohio, Judd Howson and wife Cindy Howson of the Sault, Donald Howson Jr. of Sacramento and daughter Karen (Howson) Sabatine and husband Paul Sabatine of Cedarville, MI.; five grandchildren: Andy (and wife Chelsea) Howson, Kerry (Howson) Bell and husband Amos Bell, Taylor Howson, Dr. Sheena Howson, Barry (and Alicia) Howson, and one great granddaughter (Piper Bell). A memorial service will be held this Friday, November 19, 2010 at the First United Presbyterian Church of Sault Ste. Marie at 555 Bingham Ave. A gathering will commence at 10 a.m. and the service commences at 11 a.m. After internment at Oaklawn a celebration of life and wake will follow at 4 p.m. at the home of Karen (Howson) and Paul Sabatine on Hill Island in Cedarville. Charitable donations may be forwarded to either First United Presbyterian Church, 555 Bingham Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, or Hospice of Chippewa County, Inc., 508 Ashmun Street, Suite 1, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.

Tributes

Donald J. Howson

December 19, 1918 - November 12, 2010