Donald “Doc” J. Hirn, age 92, of Gladstone passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at the Christian Park Village in Escanaba.
Doc was born August 2, 1925 in Escanaba, the son of Peter Frank and Lillian Marie (Frechette) Hirn. He was raised in Escanaba and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1943. Doc served his country proudly in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 and is a Veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight Mission IV that traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial. Doc was united in marriage to Marie Sundblad on November 8, 1952 in the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Escanaba.
Doc worked for the Mead Paper Company for many years, retiring in 1985. He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and sang in the church choir. He was a barber shop singer and enjoyed painting, golfing, and especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. He also acted in many plays with Players de Noc.
Doc is survived by his wife, Marie of Gladstone; children, Kathy (Tom) Gobert of Gladstone, Tom (Wanda) Hirn of Redwing, MN, Timothy (Debra) Hirn of Rapid River, George Hirn of Menasha, WI and Stev Hirn of Gladstone; grandchildren, Carla (Christopher), Rob (Amy), Nicole, Becky (Joe), Matt (Mandy), Sam, Alisha, Samantha, Nicholas and Christopher; great grandchildren, Cody, Kevin, Dominic, Jacob, Nicholas, Thomas, Racheal, Tristan, Peyton, Reed, Damien and Emmett; brother, Jim (Lorrie) Hirn of Escanaba; sister-in-law, Marge Hirn and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Jerome Hirn, sisters Claire (John) Skanes, Luella (Don) Patterson, Mary (Les) Lark, and Ruth Ann Hirn along with brothers Robert (Elva) Hirn, Frank (Margarette) Hirn, Dan (Virginia) Hirn, Peter Hirn, John (Margret) Hirn, Clarence Hirn, and Gary Hirn.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 28 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Military Honors will be presented at 5:00 PM by the Gladstone American Legion Post 71 and the U.S. Navy Honor Guard. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 6:00 PM at All Saints Catholic Church with Fr. Brian Gerber officiating. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight.