Donald Peter Colizzi

Donald Peter Colizzi, 85, of Charlotte, MI, a patriotic storyteller, proud Italian and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died peacefully on Sunday, June 25, 2023, surrounded by his adoring family. Don was born March 20, 1938, in Charlotte, the son of Pietro and Caterina (Capodiferro) Colizzi. In his younger years, he helped in the family business, Liberty Sweets, alongside his parents and siblings. Following graduation from Charlotte High School in 1956, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA, where he attained the rank of Corporal. He remained on inactive reserve duty until 1962. Don attended Lansing Business University where he earned a diploma in accounting and Ferris Institute where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Commerce. While at Ferris, he served as President of Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity, Delta Rho Chapter, was recognized as Who’s Who Among Students, and received the Annual Award from the Big Rapids Chamber of Commerce. After graduation, Don went to work for his then future father-in-law at Sackner Products in Grand Rapids. After moving back to Charlotte, he became the Director of Admissions for Lansing Business University, where he remained for 10 years and was awarded the Idea of the Year Award and Idea Exchange Award. In 1973, Don was selected as one of 75 students for the first class at Cooley Law School, where he attended for a year. In 1979, Don received a call from Davenport College where he would begin his most admired career journey. He was instrumental in starting the first branch campus of Davenport College and rose through the ranks of Associate Dean, Dean of the Lansing Campus, Vice President and, in 2003, retired as Senior Vice President, overseeing the Great Lakes operations. While at Davenport, Don started the Michigan National Guard Davenport Training Partnership and also received the Distinguished Alumni Award. One of his greatest achievements upon retirement was receiving the Distinguished Service Medal from the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Active in all things that aided in community, education and youth enrichment, Don was a member of Rotary Club of Lansing (1984-2023), served on the Boards for Junior Achievement, Lansing Safety Council, and Michigan Freedom Foundation (25 years), was President of Michigan Freedom Academy, President of the Charlotte High School Alumni Association, served as a mentor on the Ingham County Veterans Treatment Court, member of the “Has Beens” group, and was recognized by Charlotte Chamber of Commerce for his leadership in creating and dedicating a monument honoring Charlotte’s Medal of Honor recipient, Navy Ensign Francis C. Flaherty. Don also served as a consultant to the East Lansing Rotary Club for their project honoring Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Lieutenant Sherrod Skinner. Don’s patriotism remained a central part of his life. He was always willing to share historical stories and make public presentations to service clubs and military organizations (more than 30), throughout the tri-county area. Don was highly involved in bringing the remains of Francis Flaherty home to rest at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte in 2021, and organized the Medal of Honor ceremony for Flaherty at that time. Many would call Don a Medal of Honor scholar for his indepth knowledge.
His true loves were the Charlotte community and hot dogs! In addition, Don loved to research, label and date everything, was creative, a visionary, articulate and never far from his reach was a gadget of some sort, a remote, pen, note card, and yellow highlighter. He enjoyed nature, daily walks, hot dog roasts, traveling, playing the harmonica, as well as history, his family pets (goats and dogs), and taste testing baked goods. He loved hosting parties, organizing events and building indestructible woodwork masterpieces. As a father, Don was proud of his daughters throughout their years in 4-H showing horses and forming lasting friendships with the 4-H families. He enjoyed making people laugh and had the larger than life “Colizzi Smile.” Don appreciated life, valued family and cherished friends and was an adviser to many. He loved his grandchildren, was proud of their unique traits and talents, and they sure loved their Papa the same.
Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elaine M. (Tisch) Colizzi; daughters, Nikki Colizzi-Corr of Westport, CT, Monique T.K. Colizzi of Charlotte, Angelique T.M. Colizzi-McCrumb (Richard L. McCrumb, Jr.) of Eaton Rapids; grandchildren, Curtis G.P. Colizzi, Alexander F.D. Corr, Ashley N. Corr, Richard Owenn McCrumb and Donald Brogan McCrumb; nephews, Tony Colizzi, Greg (Jeannine) Colizzi, and Lenny Stango; nieces, Kristina Colizzi-Windom (Robert) and Neysa Colizzi; great-nephews and nieces, John Colizzi, Joseph Colizzi, Max Windom, Morgan Windom, and Arabella Colizzi. He is also survived by his loving and supportive brother John (Joy) Colizzi of Northville, MI; brother-in-law, Dan Stango of Fort Wayne, IN; many cousins; and extended family in Italy, France and the U.S., as well as special friends who he considered family, Pat Mahan, Neal Christiansen
and Lacey (Brumm) Johnson. He was predeceased by his father Pietro in 1979; sister, Anna Marie Colizzi Stango in 1990; mother, Caterina (Kate) in 1995; foster sister, Lucille LaPointe DeWitt in 2015; brother, Sam Colizzi in 2016; and sister-in-law, Marlene Colizzi in 2018.
Thank you to Sparrow Eaton Hospital, Sparrow Home Care, Mary Free Bed Rehab, Sparrow Main, Compass Health, Eaton Community Palliative Care and Hospice of Lansing for your unending compassion and care for this special and courageous man.
Friends are encouraged to support Don’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation will be from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 7, 2023, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Don’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). Memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary School, Eaton County Fair Horse Program (checks made payable to Eaton County Agricultural Society) and Eaton Community Palliative Care. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte