Obituary for Donald William Jones
Donald W. Jones, 90, long time resident and businessman of Manistee passed away peacefully July
27,2021.
Born in Blackrock Arkansas, January 2, 1931, he and his parents moved to Flint, Michigan when
Don was 3 years old. Don graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1949. He was employed by
Buick Motors during high school and for a short period of time following graduation until he joined the
United States Air Force. He served his country for four years, part of that time in Korea. Upon discharge,
he attended U of M Flint.
Don married Dorothy Ann Compton on December 31, 1950 in Flint, MI. In 1958, Don and Dorothy
purchased Riverside Motel in Manistee. They owned and operated Riverside for 8 years. After selling
Riverside Motel in 1966, Don worked as a real estate business broker from 1966 until his retirement in
1996. Don worked for LaNoble Business Brokers in Lansing MI for many years until starting his own
company, Harbour Real Estate, in 1974. As broker of Harbour Real Estate on River Street, he specialized
in hotel and motel sales, and business sales of all kinds throughout Michigan.
Don was an honorary and life member of Hotel and Motel Brokers of America. Don was instrumental in
bringing online nationwide networking technology to the hotel/motel brokerage industry in the 1980s.
Don was a Past Master and Life member of F&A Masons at Masonic Lodge #228, A life member of
DeWitt Clinton Consistory, a 32 degree Mason, and a life member of Saladin Shrine, Grand Rapids. He
was also a life member of BPO Elks #250 of Manistee; and a life member of Walsh Post #4499 VFW .
Don was an active Jaycee for many years, and a long time 'duffer' at the Manistee Golf & Country Club.
Don enjoyed spending time with his family and his vast array of friends. He was a private pilot, loved
flying and taking his family on flying trips and vacations. He also had a love of boating on the Great Lakes
and experienced many boating adventures with his family, while joining other boating families on trips in
the summertime.
He and wife Dorothy were active in the resort business, purchasing Pennellwood Resort, an American
Plan Resort in Berrien Springs, MI in the early 1970s. Don also developed a Resort Condominium
International (RCI) TimeShare Resort in Sarasota, Florida., in addition to being involved in Condo
development in Manistee.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy Ann Jones, his loving parents, Berry Clifton
and Laura Evelyn (Marchbanks) Jones, and his very close uncle, Henry Ivy Marchbanks.
He is survived by his son, Duane (Darla) Jones of Manistee and daughter, Deanne (Lars) Berentsen, of
Manistee, grandchildren, Donald H. Jones of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Alexandra (Nate) Peterson of
Rockford, MI., Evan Weston of Winchester IN., Avery Weston of Manistee, Nickolas, Jacob and Thomas
Berentsen, all of Manistee, great grandchildren Uriah R. and Hudson D. Peterson of Rockford, MI.
Anyone wishing to honor Don’s memory can donate to Shriners Hospital in Chicago for Worldwide
treatment of Crippled Children, or the Shrine Children’s Burn Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial celebration of life services will be held on September 25, 2021 at
Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee; 10am family visitation, 11am service with luncheon to follow.
27,2021.
Born in Blackrock Arkansas, January 2, 1931, he and his parents moved to Flint, Michigan when
Don was 3 years old. Don graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1949. He was employed by
Buick Motors during high school and for a short period of time following graduation until he joined the
United States Air Force. He served his country for four years, part of that time in Korea. Upon discharge,
he attended U of M Flint.
Don married Dorothy Ann Compton on December 31, 1950 in Flint, MI. In 1958, Don and Dorothy
purchased Riverside Motel in Manistee. They owned and operated Riverside for 8 years. After selling
Riverside Motel in 1966, Don worked as a real estate business broker from 1966 until his retirement in
1996. Don worked for LaNoble Business Brokers in Lansing MI for many years until starting his own
company, Harbour Real Estate, in 1974. As broker of Harbour Real Estate on River Street, he specialized
in hotel and motel sales, and business sales of all kinds throughout Michigan.
Don was an honorary and life member of Hotel and Motel Brokers of America. Don was instrumental in
bringing online nationwide networking technology to the hotel/motel brokerage industry in the 1980s.
Don was a Past Master and Life member of F&A Masons at Masonic Lodge #228, A life member of
DeWitt Clinton Consistory, a 32 degree Mason, and a life member of Saladin Shrine, Grand Rapids. He
was also a life member of BPO Elks #250 of Manistee; and a life member of Walsh Post #4499 VFW .
Don was an active Jaycee for many years, and a long time 'duffer' at the Manistee Golf & Country Club.
Don enjoyed spending time with his family and his vast array of friends. He was a private pilot, loved
flying and taking his family on flying trips and vacations. He also had a love of boating on the Great Lakes
and experienced many boating adventures with his family, while joining other boating families on trips in
the summertime.
He and wife Dorothy were active in the resort business, purchasing Pennellwood Resort, an American
Plan Resort in Berrien Springs, MI in the early 1970s. Don also developed a Resort Condominium
International (RCI) TimeShare Resort in Sarasota, Florida., in addition to being involved in Condo
development in Manistee.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy Ann Jones, his loving parents, Berry Clifton
and Laura Evelyn (Marchbanks) Jones, and his very close uncle, Henry Ivy Marchbanks.
He is survived by his son, Duane (Darla) Jones of Manistee and daughter, Deanne (Lars) Berentsen, of
Manistee, grandchildren, Donald H. Jones of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Alexandra (Nate) Peterson of
Rockford, MI., Evan Weston of Winchester IN., Avery Weston of Manistee, Nickolas, Jacob and Thomas
Berentsen, all of Manistee, great grandchildren Uriah R. and Hudson D. Peterson of Rockford, MI.
Anyone wishing to honor Don’s memory can donate to Shriners Hospital in Chicago for Worldwide
treatment of Crippled Children, or the Shrine Children’s Burn Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial celebration of life services will be held on September 25, 2021 at
Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee; 10am family visitation, 11am service with luncheon to follow.