Donald E. McLain

Donald McLain

of Kalamazoo, MI

Fun Loving, Outgoing, Charming

Donald Eugene McLain, 84, passed away September 23, 2024, at Brookdale Memory Care facility in Portage. He was born August 10, 1940, to Nicholas (Mac) Edward McLain and the former Theda Irene Fenner. As a young man, he was a Boy Scout and even won a medal for rescuing a drowning man in a nearby lake. Don always loved music. While in high school, he played the saxophone in the marching band. After graduating from Kalamazoo Central High in 1958, Don joined the United States Navy. He was stationed in Connecticut and worked on the submarine USS Fulton. After leaving the Navy, he returned to Kalamazoo, joined the Upjohn Company in the maintenance department and later moved to work in the sheet metal shop. He married Patricia Ann McGuire in 1962. His early years with Pat were spent with a large group of friends, bowling, and canoeing. Soon, he became the father of two daughters, Kelly Lynn and Kimberly Kay. In his free time, he learned to play the bass guitar, even playing for a local band called “Rhem Wall and the Green Valley Boys.” Don and Patricia divorced in 1983, and he married Nancy Houghtaling in 1999. Nancy preceded him in death in 2017.

In time, Don went back to school at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, earning an associate degree in mechanical engineering, which he used at Upjohn when he joined the Mechanical Engineering Department. Always the tinkerer, Don invented a nut and retainer for quick adjustable jaw wrenches, for which he holds a United State Patent. He also invented an enhanced electro-polishing process. He left the Upjohn Company with this invention and started his own company, Kepco. He later partnered with a Japanese company and eventually sold that company. He joined forces with another company in Ohio and later started his own independent electro-polishing business. A lifelong learner, Don attended school to earn his pilot’s license and eventually received his instrument rating. All told, he owned three different airplanes. In the words of his daughters, Don “always loved his toys” and enjoyed – in addition to airplanes – motorcycles, snowmobiles, and sailboats.

Don was preceded in death by his sister, Judith Ann (McLain) Nedervelt, and brother, Nicholas Edward McLain II. Don is survived by daughters Kelly Golichowski and Kim (Ron) Duis; sisters Irene Kaye (McLain) Cain and Valerie (Allen) Collige; grandchildren Emma Golichowski, Andrew Cornue, Abigayl McCartny, Allison Cornue; and great-grandson, Asher James McCartny.

A celebration of life for Donald McLain will be held Saturday, September 28, at 11:30 a.m. at Kalamazoo Covenant Church, 5708 East Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49048. A light lunch will follow the service. To leave a message for the family, please visit www.redmondfuneralhomes.net. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be directed to Centrica/Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 7100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.