Obituary for Donald Arthur Longfield
DONALD ARTHUR LONGFIELD, sang his last song – at home in Kalkaska surrounded by his family. He was born in April 22, 1928 in Brighton, the son of the late Henry & Laura (Donaldson) Longfield. He attended Milford High School graduating in 1945. Attended General Motors Tech in Flint, received his Z.Z. degree in 1964 at Lyons Township Junior College, LaGrange, Illinois and a D.D.S. from University of Michigan in 1968. Don served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy as an ARM3 in the Blimp Squadron ZP-1 from 1946-1948. On April 12, 1952, Donald A. Longfield married Sylvia D. LaClare.
Don worked as a Tool & Die Supervisor for Fisher Body Div of G.M.C 1945 and 1948-1964, Bendix Aero-Space Program from 1965-1968, and in General Practice of Dentistry in Kalkaska from 1968 until retirement in 1994. He has also served Ferris State University as a clinical dentist & consultant for the School of Dental Hygiene. Don was a member of both the American and Michigan Dental Associations and was honored as the Michigan Dental Association’s “Dentist of the Year 1987”. He was the President of the Nation Flying Dentist Association and serviced on the Board of Governors for the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Alumni Association.
During the year 1986-1993 Donald & Sylvia established, set up and operated a fee two chair clinic for Blossoming Rose in Jerusalem, Israel and from 1976-1994, they worked in remote field dentistry in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Don Incorporated Friends Across Borders (FAB Inc.) to assist people in Central America. Dr. Longfield was President of Kalkaska Rotary Club, Kalkaska Sno Pakers, served on the Kalkaska Trout Festival, the Kalkaska Community Chorus and as a board member of The Kalkaska County Centennial Committee. Don was an advisor to Grand Traverse Area United Way, Chair of Kalkaska Airport Committee, Director of Cadillac State Bank-Kalkaska Branch, Board Advisor for National Bank of Detroit-Northwest and a Board Chairman of K.A.I.R. In addition, he enjoyed singing Barbershop with the Cherry Capital Chorus, as well as hunting, shooting, repairing items around the farm and was a gunsmith, even building an addition onto his home. He shared the honor of being Kalkaska Citizen of the Year 1977 with his wife, Sylvia, and he was 2018 Trout King!
Donald is survived by his 4 children, Sandra Burlison of St. Cloud, FL, Laura (Ronald) Reinhold of Williamsburg, Bruce Longfield of Kalkaska and Katsue (Ken) Hokura of Tokyo, Japan; grandchildren, Jabin (Laura) Reinhold, Dacia (David Murray) Reinhold, Hannah Reinhold, Jenica (William) Hartman, Jael (John) Pulcipher, Grace Reinhold and Chie (Daisuke) Yamada; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Isaac and Levi Reinhold, Macson Murray, Briar and John Pulcipher, Kensley Hartman and Momoe and Emma Yamada; brothers, Richard (Lois) Longfield of Prescott, AZ and David Longfield of West Branch; and sister, Edith Kay (Charles) Diver of Sedro Woolley, WA.
Donald is preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia; brother, John Longfield; sisters-in-law Jean
and Carrie Longfield
Memorial services for Donald A. Longfield will be at a later date to be announced. Cremation has taken place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee with final interment in Orange Twp
Cemetery, Kalkaska. Those wishing to remember Dr. Longfield may make a donation to the Cornerstone Community Bible Church.
Don worked as a Tool & Die Supervisor for Fisher Body Div of G.M.C 1945 and 1948-1964, Bendix Aero-Space Program from 1965-1968, and in General Practice of Dentistry in Kalkaska from 1968 until retirement in 1994. He has also served Ferris State University as a clinical dentist & consultant for the School of Dental Hygiene. Don was a member of both the American and Michigan Dental Associations and was honored as the Michigan Dental Association’s “Dentist of the Year 1987”. He was the President of the Nation Flying Dentist Association and serviced on the Board of Governors for the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Alumni Association.
During the year 1986-1993 Donald & Sylvia established, set up and operated a fee two chair clinic for Blossoming Rose in Jerusalem, Israel and from 1976-1994, they worked in remote field dentistry in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Don Incorporated Friends Across Borders (FAB Inc.) to assist people in Central America. Dr. Longfield was President of Kalkaska Rotary Club, Kalkaska Sno Pakers, served on the Kalkaska Trout Festival, the Kalkaska Community Chorus and as a board member of The Kalkaska County Centennial Committee. Don was an advisor to Grand Traverse Area United Way, Chair of Kalkaska Airport Committee, Director of Cadillac State Bank-Kalkaska Branch, Board Advisor for National Bank of Detroit-Northwest and a Board Chairman of K.A.I.R. In addition, he enjoyed singing Barbershop with the Cherry Capital Chorus, as well as hunting, shooting, repairing items around the farm and was a gunsmith, even building an addition onto his home. He shared the honor of being Kalkaska Citizen of the Year 1977 with his wife, Sylvia, and he was 2018 Trout King!
Donald is survived by his 4 children, Sandra Burlison of St. Cloud, FL, Laura (Ronald) Reinhold of Williamsburg, Bruce Longfield of Kalkaska and Katsue (Ken) Hokura of Tokyo, Japan; grandchildren, Jabin (Laura) Reinhold, Dacia (David Murray) Reinhold, Hannah Reinhold, Jenica (William) Hartman, Jael (John) Pulcipher, Grace Reinhold and Chie (Daisuke) Yamada; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Isaac and Levi Reinhold, Macson Murray, Briar and John Pulcipher, Kensley Hartman and Momoe and Emma Yamada; brothers, Richard (Lois) Longfield of Prescott, AZ and David Longfield of West Branch; and sister, Edith Kay (Charles) Diver of Sedro Woolley, WA.
Donald is preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia; brother, John Longfield; sisters-in-law Jean
and Carrie Longfield
Memorial services for Donald A. Longfield will be at a later date to be announced. Cremation has taken place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee with final interment in Orange Twp
Cemetery, Kalkaska. Those wishing to remember Dr. Longfield may make a donation to the Cornerstone Community Bible Church.