Donald J. DeNooyer

Donald Jay DeNooyer, a lifelong Battle Creek resident, was thrilled to finally arrive at his heavenly home on September 11, 2025, at the age of 95. Don was best known for his love language of service—in the roles of car dealer, Battle Creek Christian School employee and volunteer, landscaper, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. As a Master Gardener, he beautified his surroundings one yard at a time. Though he appreciated fancy restaurants and fine accommodations, he never shied away from getting his hands dirty in the most mundane of tasks, whether changing a tire, painting a school gym, laying bricks, or weeding a flower bed.

Don was the grandson of four Dutch immigrant celery farmers and next-door neighbors in Kalamazoo. As a child, Dad loved spending time at his Grandma Rhem’s dunking cousins in the celery tank, or getting dunked, and earning nickels from Grandma Rhem for weeding or nailing celery boxes. He also inherited his grandparents’ commitment to faith, family, and community, demonstrating a strong work ethic marked by honesty, respect, kindness, and integrity.

Choosing business over celery, Don’s father and uncle started the car dealership in Battle Creek in 1926. Their service department became a model to Chevy dealers across the U.S. with a motto of “Service Comes First.” This became Don’s own philosophy across the board. Above all, he had a servant’s heart, serving with the gift of time and generosity of resources.

At Battle Creek Central High School (graduated 1948), Don participated on the golf team and debate team, played trombone in the band, earned his pilot’s license, and was voted Best Personality. The DeNooyer family spent summers on St. Mary’s Lake, instigating fun memories and a rock garden that inspired Don’s love of landscaping.

In the early 1950s, after graduating from Calvin College (1952) and earning his MBA at University of Michigan (1953), Don served in the Army for two years, stationed near Seattle. With the GI bill, he attended flight school in St. Louis for his commercial pilot’s license and instrument rating.

He returned to Michigan to attend General Motors Tech for car repair. Concurrently, he worked at DeNooyer Brothers Chevrolet (1955), learning the business from the ground up. Don was general manager (1960) then dealer (1963) until 1981.

In 1957, Don married Gloria Ann Bellgraph. Together they raised four children, 9 horses, 4 dogs, 3 goats, myriad rabbits, a lamb, and 20+ cats. Don always loved horses. During the years of country living on White Rabbit Road (1974-1982), Don kept horses and participated in 4-H and the County Fair with daughter Carol. He built a treehouse with sons Jake and David. Through Chevrolet, Don and Ann had many opportunities to travel around the world. A favorite family vacation was a trip out west driving in a motor home and flying to Hawaii (1976).

When Don was five, his parents became founding members of the Battle Creek Christian Reformed Church (1935). As a member there for 8+ decades, Don taught Sunday school, was an elder and deacon, served on the building committee, and later visited shut-ins weekly.

Active in the community, Don was voted Young Man of the Year at age 33 (1963). He continued to serve on the Jaycees (Jr. Chamber of Commerce) board and the Great Lakes bank board of directors, was campaign chairman for the United Fund/United Way fundraising campaign, president of Jr. Achievement, president of the local Auto Dealers Association, and a Kiwanis Club member.

Committed to Christian education, Don volunteered at the Battle Creek Christian School for nearly forty years (1963-2000). In 1963, Don bought playground equipment and shrubs and took a three-week working vacation to plow the acreage, and plant grass and trees. He was the business manager from 1964-1970, a booster club member and treasurer for decades, and a building and grounds committee member for 30+ years.

After the dealership years, Don’s role at the Christian School went from volunteer to employee as Director of Development (1984 - 2000), while still keeping up the grounds and donating time to the gym and kitchen addition. He drew architectural renderings, was general contractor, painted the gym, made and installed benches, and installed kitchen equipment. He also started the Christian school foundation (1988), bringing in financial gifts and matching funds from donors.

In the late 1990s, Don became Ann’s primary caregiver as she suffered from multiple sclerosis. Don was a model of steadfastness and patience. Even after she moved to a nursing home, he remained devoted and visited her daily. She passed away in 2008, two years after unexpectedly losing their youngest son Dave. Don and Ann loved their twelve grandchildren and enjoyed many visits with them over the years in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, despite Ann’s health limitations. For years, they hosted Christmas. The grandkids loved sledding down the front-yard hill.

Following a lifelong passion, Don became a Master Gardener (2007) in his late seventies. He and his friend Dave DeGraaf rejuvenated the Labyrinth Garden and Native Garden at the Leila Arboretum (1000+ hours). Don and Nellie Briggs tended the Christian Learning Center (formerly BCCS) and Irving Park. For years he helped relatives with their yards and managed four or five yard care business accounts until age 90 (2020), with eight accounts at his peak. Don’s own backyard was featured in Battle Creek’s Garden Show in 2018. Even after moving to NorthPointe Woods (2022), Don still volunteered weekly in community gardens.

Above any accolade or accomplishment, Don most valued his grace-filled walk with the Lord, living in the knowledge of forgiven sin along with his ultimate identity as a child of God. In his later years, Don’s faith and prayer life flourished as he daily prayed for each family member. He was known as saying, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved.” His favorite verse was Psalm 91:1—“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (NKJV). It was evident he did indeed dwell there. His legacy will continue to bless and inspire his family and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Gloria Ann, parents Jacob and Dena (Rhem) DeNooyer, siblings Barbara Newhof and Norman DeNooyer, and son David Donald DeNooyer. He is survived by his sister Marjorie Kool, his children Laura (Timothy) DeNooyer-Moore, Carol Garcia, and Jake (Mary Beth); twelve grandchildren: Kaia Moore, Audrey Moore, Colin Moore, Jeffrey Moore, Ana (Anthony) Chignoli, Sandra (Sam) Barthel, Alexandra (Jake) Fletcher, David Garcia, Miranda (Brenden) Leach, Rachel DeNooyer, Alyssa DeNooyer, and Ryan DeNooyer; six great-grandchildren: Zeus, Ameyali, Peyton, Ayla, Judah, and Lucia; plus cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 105 Capital Avenue NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, September 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Michigan at 111 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017. The service was Livestreamed and may be viewed at Livestream - First Presbyterian Battle Creek. Donations in Don’s memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek or to Turning Point, broadcast ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah (DavidJeremiah.org),P.O. Box 3838 San Diego, CA 92163. Personal messages for the family can be placed in the guestbook below.

One of Don’s favorite hymns: “How Great Thou Art”

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Verse 2:

When through the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Refrain

Verse 3:

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Refrain

Verse 4:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”

The family has created a beautiful slideshow of memories which may be viewed below. Also while enjoying the slideshow, please enjoy some of his favorite hymns @ Don DeNooyer Celebration of Life - playlist by penny4545 | Spotify. (right click and open in separate tab)