Donald W. Hoke

Donald W. Hoke, 93, of Bellevue, died March 11, 2023.  Donald was born March 9, 1930, in Allegan County to Walter and Ethel (Belden) Hoke.  Donald served his country honorably in the United States Army and worked at the Georgia Pacific papermill for many years before retiring in 1992.  He married the former LaDonna Berry on September 29, 1956.  The couple enjoyed 66 years of marriage.  

Donald enjoyed metal detecting, two tracking (with his car), collecting shells and coins, fishing, woodworking, polishing rocks and camping.  He was an avid reader, especially John Grisham books.  He went to the barbershop in Baldwin every Saturday to chat and gossip with the guys.  He was loved by many and everyone around town knew him.  

Donald is survived by his loving wife, LaDonna; their five daughters, Donnita Frisbie, Tina Hoke, Dinah Hoke, Tracy (Jim) Reed and Marcia Freeman and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. He was greatly loved by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Esther Hoke, three sons-in-law, Wayne Wood, Philip DeHaan and Thomas Freeman; two brothers, Lee (Janet) and Roger Hoke and two sisters, Jean Sutton (Donald) and Pat Hayward (Richard). 

Visitation will be Monday, March 20, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care in Battle Creek, where funeral services to celebrate Donald’s life will be 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 21.  Interment with full military honors will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. A luncheon will be held immediately after the interment at the Leila Arboretum Training Center located at 103 Limit Street, Battle Creek. Memorial donations may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).  Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.