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StaffLife Story Funeral Director
donstidham@lifestorynet.com
In all honesty, Don Stidham never figured to be here now.
Back in 1966, Don was graduating from Fruitport High School , with a wary eye trained on the horizon. His youth was spent much like every boy's, with loves of baseball, sledding, hiking and biking, as well as Youth For Christ. But by 1969, the country was embroiled in the height of its conflict with Vietnam , and Don - like thousands of young men just like him - was uncertain what the future held for him.
A friend had talked to Don about an apprenticeship position open at the Clock Funeral Home, which piqued Don's interest. Coincidentally, Don was put on the path toward funeral directing in school, when an aptitude test he had taken indicated he would be a good fit for the position!
So Don decided to "give it a try," and take the position, but didn't think he'd last long there, given the tumultuous times. But he took the job anyway.
"I assumed I would be drafted into the Army anytime, anyway," Don recalls. "So I did, and they did not, and now, 36 years later ..."
Funny how life finds its own path for each of us. But 36 years later, Don is still grateful for his opportunity. And with as much experience in the field as Don has, he's become an exceptional funeral director.
"It's a gradual process," Don explains. "It takes a good deal of time and experience to become a truly good funeral director-caregiver."
Don has become successful thanks to an uncommon compassion, a ready ear, and a tremendous work ethic, which he fostered at a young age and continues today. In fact, when Don enrolled in the Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis, following two years at Muskegon Community College , he helped pay his way with a 300-customer paper route. From 2-6 in the morning.
After Don graduated, he worked for a downstate funeral home for eight months, all the while longing to return to his roots. Soon a position opened up at just the right time, and Don headed back to the sandy shores of the Muskegon area, back to Clock Funeral Homes.
Today Don resides in Muskegon with his wife, Darlene, with whom he raised three wonderful children, now on their own. The Stidhams enjoy many activities, including traveling, camping, hiking, biking, and backpacking, although Don's hobbies don't end there. He also has a fondness for photography, reading, watching sports, and his many home improvement projects. Don describes himself as quiet, conservative, dogmatic and sometimes stubborn, but he also is a good listener and very dedicated.
And for the past 32 years, Don has been dedicated to helping people through Clock Life Story Funeral Homes.
"A funeral director needs to meet the family's needs," Don says. "We need to suggest and persuade better expressions for their grief. In the end, our job is orchestrating a process that is satisfying and rewarding."
And it may not be quite the way he envisioned his future 36 years ago, but for Don Stidham, his career has most certainly been both.
Back in 1966, Don was graduating from Fruitport High School , with a wary eye trained on the horizon. His youth was spent much like every boy's, with loves of baseball, sledding, hiking and biking, as well as Youth For Christ. But by 1969, the country was embroiled in the height of its conflict with Vietnam , and Don - like thousands of young men just like him - was uncertain what the future held for him.
A friend had talked to Don about an apprenticeship position open at the Clock Funeral Home, which piqued Don's interest. Coincidentally, Don was put on the path toward funeral directing in school, when an aptitude test he had taken indicated he would be a good fit for the position!
So Don decided to "give it a try," and take the position, but didn't think he'd last long there, given the tumultuous times. But he took the job anyway.
"I assumed I would be drafted into the Army anytime, anyway," Don recalls. "So I did, and they did not, and now, 36 years later ..."
Funny how life finds its own path for each of us. But 36 years later, Don is still grateful for his opportunity. And with as much experience in the field as Don has, he's become an exceptional funeral director.
"It's a gradual process," Don explains. "It takes a good deal of time and experience to become a truly good funeral director-caregiver."
Don has become successful thanks to an uncommon compassion, a ready ear, and a tremendous work ethic, which he fostered at a young age and continues today. In fact, when Don enrolled in the Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis, following two years at Muskegon Community College , he helped pay his way with a 300-customer paper route. From 2-6 in the morning.
After Don graduated, he worked for a downstate funeral home for eight months, all the while longing to return to his roots. Soon a position opened up at just the right time, and Don headed back to the sandy shores of the Muskegon area, back to Clock Funeral Homes.
Today Don resides in Muskegon with his wife, Darlene, with whom he raised three wonderful children, now on their own. The Stidhams enjoy many activities, including traveling, camping, hiking, biking, and backpacking, although Don's hobbies don't end there. He also has a fondness for photography, reading, watching sports, and his many home improvement projects. Don describes himself as quiet, conservative, dogmatic and sometimes stubborn, but he also is a good listener and very dedicated.
And for the past 32 years, Don has been dedicated to helping people through Clock Life Story Funeral Homes.
"A funeral director needs to meet the family's needs," Don says. "We need to suggest and persuade better expressions for their grief. In the end, our job is orchestrating a process that is satisfying and rewarding."
And it may not be quite the way he envisioned his future 36 years ago, but for Don Stidham, his career has most certainly been both.
