Obituary of Donald G. Henkel

December 5, 1930 - December 8, 2018

Donald Glenn Henkel.  Age 88 of Wyandotte and Trenton.

Donald passed peacefully Saturday, December 8th 2018 in Wyandotte Michigan.   Don was born in Middlebranch Ohio to Herb and Hilda Henkel.  He was raised and went to school in Stark County, Ohio along with his brothers Dick, Red, sister Wanda, and surviving brother Lyle.

After graduating from Greentown High School in 1948 he started full time at the local brickyard and advanced from machinist to factory sales manager.   Don moved his wife Mary and three children to Michigan in 1962 to become an architectural brick sales rep, retiring in 2002.  Don’s building skills are evident in the homes and structures he designed and built in Ohio, Trenton and his beloved Cheboygan, Michigan. 

Upon retirement Don’s other passions began to blossom. He joined the Downriver Poets and Playwrights group in 1996 and it was there that he met his current wife Jan Coyne.  His love of poetry gave us three books with A Legend of Santa and His Brother Fred, illustrated by his son D. B. Henkel, being the most notable.  He shared the Fred story everywhere he went and especially loved taking it to schools to recite to students.  Don had a special creativity and also enjoyed inventing games and gadgets like Call Pitch Baseball, Wordlist and the Fly Fob.  He frequently attended sales and auctions, trying to find the hidden treasures in other people’s junk. 

Don was a kind man with a sense of humor and a big smile, and will be missed.  He leaves behind his wife Jan Coyne Henkel, children Denise (Phill) Henkel Carbonell, Mark (Patty) Henkel, Don B. Henkel, Patrick (Simone) Coyne, Michael (Debbie) Coyne and Christopher (Denise) Coyne, and former wife Mary Brow.   Together Don and Jan have six kids, thirteen grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

In Michigan, a visitation for Don will be held Tuesday Dec. 11 from 2 till 7pm at the Nixon Chapel, 2544 Biddle Ave.  Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, followed by a funeral service at 7pm.

 In Ohio, Don will be laid to rest in a private burial at St Jacobs Lutheran Cemetery on Wednesday Dec. 12.  There will be a memorial gathering that evening at the Greentown United Methodist Church, 3088 State St Nw, Greentown, OH 44630, Wednesday 6 to 8pm, and also Thursday 11 to noon, followed by a memorial service at noon.