Donald Schiappacasse

Donald James Schiappacasse, age 73, devoted and loving husband, father, brother and uncle, and a long time resident of Warren, passed away on April 15, 2012, after a three ½-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born October 4, 1938, in Mount Clemens and baptized at St. Peter Parish, Don attended and graduated from St. Mary School in 1956. Don married Carolyn Lee Caloia at St. Basil the Great Parish in Eastpointe on October 6, 1962. To them was born a beautiful daughter, Leigh Ann, on December 1, 1967.

A devout Catholic, Don, has been both a member of St. Martin de Porres Parish of Warren for over 40 years and a lifetime member and holder of the Third and Fourth Degree Order of the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Solanus Casey Council 3797 of Roseville.

Don retired in 1992 after thirty years service as a meat-cutter and manager with Wrigley's, Farmer Jack, and A&P throughout the metro-Detroit area.

Don has been a lifetime fan and collector of music and audio equipment, having amassed a sizable and varied music collection he enjoyed listening to most evenings on his jukebox and many CD-changers. He also enjoyed listening to music of the 1950's and 1960's on satellite and HD radio during the past few years.

Don enjoyed camping and travelling throughout Michigan and elsewhere over the years, especially Frankenmuth, Niagara Falls, Fort Wilderness Campground of WDW, Florida, and his daughter's cottage in Port Lambton, Ontario.

Ever active and a humble inspiration to those around him, Don enjoyed his daily walks and bike-riding trips regardless of his location, the weather, the time of day, or his recent health challenges.

Don enjoyed spending time with his family and life-long friends and was very much "one of the guys" in his younger years and while growing up in Mount Clemens where he especially enjoyed cruising the local drive-ins and having a foot-long chilidog and chili-fries or two. A treat he enjoyed throughout his life.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Carolyn, his daughter, Leigh Ann (Kevin Halleck), his brother, Robert (Frances), his sister-in-law, Joan Titus (Gary), his brother-in-laws, Carl Caloia (Patricia) and Louis Caloia Jr., god-daughters Sharon (Schiappacasse) Ruhl and Tracy Schankin, god-son, Gary Titus Jr., and many other nieces and nephews. His parents, Albert and Margaret (Beine) Schiappacasse, his sister Dorothy Houthoofd, his brother-in-law, Bernard (Bernie Hout) Houthoofd, his sister-in-law, Patricia (Wnuk) Schiappacasse, his father-in-law, Louis Caloia Sr., his mother-in-law, Nora (Hogan) Caloia, and his nephew, Stephen Schiappacasse, predeceased him. All who loved and knew him will dearly miss him.

Visitation Tuesday and Wednesday, from 2 to 9 pm with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7 pm on Wednesday at the Walter Scott Skupny Funeral Home, 28605 Gratiot, 2 Blocks South of 12 Mile Rd. Funeral Thursday, April 19 at St Martin De Porres Catholic Church, 31515 Hoover Rd, Warren, MI 48093. In state 9:00 at the Church followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 am. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton Twp. Share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guest Book" at www.mypreneed.com/