Donnamae Grace Bigelow

Donnamae Grace Bigelow, age 92, of Moran, Michigan, went to be with the Lord on November 1, 2021, in St. Ignace, Michigan. She was born March 12, 1929, in Moran, Michigan, to Charles and Martha (Wiertella) Litzner.

Growing up Donna worked with her father Charles, at several of their businesses including the local bar in Moran where she met the love of her life, Frank (Bud) Bigelow. Donna and Frank married July 4, 1953. During the early years of their marriage, they lived in the lower peninsula where Frank was working but returned to the UP in the mid 1950’s. Donna and Bud built their home on her beloved Brevort Lake where together they raised their family.

In addition to being busy raising children, Donna loved to garden; she could take a seemingly dead plant and coax it back to a long and beautiful life. At her Brevort Lake home, Donna had a beautiful collection of peonies, crocus, iris, gladiolas, orchids and other flowers too many to name, but she knew the names of everyone and would spend countless hours maintaining her flower and vegetable gardens. Even the spring black flies were no deterrent for Donna when she was working in her gardens. Besides gardening, Donna also enjoyed fishing with Bud, picking wild mushrooms and winning at Bingo. Additionally, Donna was the bookkeeper for the family construction company for 15 years.

Donna was a woman of strong faith who was baptized in the Moran Lutheran Church where she was a member.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank “Bud” Bigelow; son, Larry Bigelow; grandson, Gary Bigelow Jr.; sisters, Reva (Jack) Shimmelpenny, Doris (Ed) Litzner, Cleoma (Fred) Spencer, and Joy (Bob) Bigger.

Donna is survived by her children; Peggy (Marvin) Peters of Texas and Gary (Lisa) Bigelow of Moran; daughter-in-law, Joann Bigelow of St. Ignace; grandchildren, Jeff Bigelow, Jeremy (Katrina) Bigelow, Jessica (Chris) Idelski, Cristy Bigelow, Samantha Bigelow, Raeann Bigelow, step-grandchildren; Cord Wilson, Bob Northrop, Brad Northrop, and Mike Begovac; and great-grandchildren, Maddison, Avery, Emilie, Ethan, Matthew, Andrew, Kimberly, Maryssa, Nathaniel, Austyn, and Garryson.

Donna loved her grandchildren and greatly cherished the time spent playing games, especially Dirty Bird, with her grandchildren at her home.

Donna was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She will be immensely missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Final Resting Place will be Brevort Township Cemetery in Moran, Michigan.

No services are planned at this time.

Galer Funeral Homes & Cremation in Pickford, Michigan is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.

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