Donald William Cargo

Livingston County Daily Press and Argus
Howell, Michigan
Friday, May , 2010
Donald W. Cargo
Donald William Cargo, 83, of Brighton died May 5. Keehn Funeral Home, 706 W. Main St., Brighton, (810) 229-9871.

Donald William Cargo
Common Man Who Lived An Uncommon Life
Donald William Cargo, loving husband, treasured father, and exemplary grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on May 5th at the age of 83 from complications with pneumonia.

Don was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1926. He was the youngest child and the only son of William and Bernice Cargo. He graduated from Houghton High School in 1944 and joined the United States Navy, serving in WWII and the Korean War. Don graduated from Michigan Technological University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1950.

He married his beloved Eunice in June of 1949. He treated her as a precious gift until the day that he died. Together they raised four children and were important members of their church and community in Port Huron, Michigan, Indianapolis, Indiana and finally Brighton, Michigan.

Don finished his professional career as Director, Design and Manufacturing Technology for the U.S. Army. Prior to that he served as President of Electric Apparatus Company in Howell, Michigan. Leading up to these significant roles Don worked for Remco Hydraulics, Anker-Holth Company, Mueller Brass Company, North American Aviation and Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation.

In all things Don distinguished himself as trustworthy, loyal, devoted, generous, loving, kind and deeply committed to his faith in Christ and his family. He loved God and loved people.

Donald William Cargo considered himself a common man with a child-like faith. This was an overriding theme of his life which provided an indelible imprint on all that knew and loved him...it was in this common man that an extraordinary and truly uncommon legacy was produced and passed on.

As such he will be deeply missed by those he leaves behind...

His wife of nearly 61 years, Eunice Jankila; their four children Bruce Cargo (and wife Lilise of Fowlerville, MI), Liz Thompson (and husband Dale of Woodbury, MN), Mary Wolgemuth (and husband Dan of Aurora, CO), and Bill Cargo (and wife Deb of Grand Haven, MI).

His six grandchildren: Amy (Thompson) & Brian Hamilton (Stacy, MN), Andrew & Chrissy Wolgemuth (Aurora, CO), Erik & Kendal Wolgemuth (Aurora, CO), Alli (Wolgemuth) Horst (Denver, CO), Delaney Cargo (Grand Haven, MI), and Tierney Cargo (Grand Haven, MI). His great-grandchildren: Jon Hamilton, Sam Hamilton, Malia Wolgemuth, Graham Wolgemuth, Davey Wolgemuth with a sixth due to arrive in August.

Don is also survived by his sister Iris Ferrell of Deland, Florida.

Memorials gifts should be directed to Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church, 228 N. Burkhart Rd., Howell, MI 48843.

Visitation with the Cargo family will be held on Sunday the 9th of May from 2pm to 6pm at the Keehn Funeral Home, 706 W. Main St, Brighton, MI. Funeral services will be held at 11am on May 10th and will be officiated by Rev. Galen Grulke. The funeral will be at Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church, 228 N. Burkhart Rd., Howell, MI.

The family will receive friends at the church after 10:00 A.M. on Monday.

Tell a story, share a memory or send the family a condolence at www.keehnfuneralhome.com