Obituary for Donald Eugene Tungate
Donald Eugene Tungate passed away on July 31, 2022 at the age of 88 (born February 26, 1934). He lived a full and happy life surrounded by family and many lifelong friends from Battle Creek.
Don loved baseball. He played throughout his life including at Battle Creek Central, where he was captain for three years, and at Western Michigan, where he was the first in his family to attend college. His baseball claim to fame was hitting a double and a triple off Satchel Paige. He later went on to coach his sons for years. Many boys loved him as a coach and spent many summer evenings at the Tungate house where they talked baseball. He was a regular at Bailey Park and hosted many Stan Musial players. He was inducted into the Stan Musial Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 and was recently inducted into the Battle Creek Central Hall of Fame. He loved watching the Detroit Tigers and listening to them on the radio on summer nights when he was young. He stayed true to the Lions despite many poor performances. He was always aware of “how bad the refs were” when watching his favorite teams and how badly the Tiger managers handled pitchers. He also loved playing golf and was the family organizer of July 4th golf tournaments, complete with prizes and handicapping. He never missed his grandson Grant’s golf matches during college at MSU and caddied for him in Amateur events. For that matter, he never missed an athletic or cheerleading event of his own children, his local grandchildren and later his long-time family friends’ kids. He was known to burn CD’s of old love ballads for family and friends and checked in frequently to ensure they were at the top of their playlists. He watched and recorded all Hallmark movies and replayed them regularly for visiting children who agreed they were the best movies they had ever seen. He insisted only bad luck was the reason he lost a card game. He was a supreme handicapper who always predicted the winner after the race was run. “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” was an affectionate nickname given to him by his kids. His affectionate nicknames for them were Big Sis, Little Sis, and for the boys it depended on what kind of trouble they were getting into with friends.
He loved his hometown of Battle Creek where he raised his family. He worked his way through college working the late-night shift alone at Sullivan’s Ice Cream taking in deliveries before heading to classes in the morning. When his career company Hydreco closed after decades, he chose to stay in Battle Creek instead of moving South so he didn’t have to uproot his family, taking a job with II Stanley. He loved cars and knew a lot about them, always tinkering and fixing problems, which prompted his nickname - Eugenious, the car genius. He was a master draftsman, and at Hydreco he designed a pump which was later used by the company. His natural craftsmanship included beautiful handwriting and creative skills, and he loved designing Halloween costumes for his kids and grandkids. He was a wonderful father who patiently drove on many family vacations across the country to Arizona, the West Coast, and Florida in a station wagon, once expertly steering the car to safety when the brakes went out in a downhill valley. He always knew the best directions for any trip (and provided his input freely), whether across the country or simply across town. He loved playing cards and gambling at the Casino, where he always knew the best slot machines for hitting it big. He was a Battle Creek yoyo champion as a kid and shared his skills with his grandchildren later in life. His love of cars extended to helping his sons build Pinewood Derby cars that won the “big” trophies. He created skating rinks in the backyard when the kids were small and later built a pool in the backyard with the help of his longtime friends, making the Tungate home a popular hangout. He also loved spending time with family at their cottage at Duck Lake. All grandkids remember hanging off his golf cart as he guided them through adventurous drives into the “scary woods” near the cottage.
Don married the love of his life Sandra Lyman in his early twenties. She was feisty to his calm. He affectionately called her “Lightning” throughout their life together. Like many of their lifelong friends, they met at Battle Creek High School. He recently recalled a story of collecting scrap metal near the train tracks with a friend which he sold to raise money to take Sandra to senior prom. Throughout their marriage, he loved to get in his car and go places without warning, prompting Sandra’s often-used phrase, “Has anyone seen Donnie?” In her later years as she suffered from Alzheimer’s, he became her primary care giver which was a real change in their life. A beloved caregiver told the family that she had never seen such a devoted husband care for his wife. He was extremely patient with the challenges of the disease. He loved Lightning and she loved him. Right to the very end, they continued to hold hands together and she would rest her head on his shoulders.
Don is survived by his wife of 67 years of marriage Sandra Lou Tungate, and his four children Michael Donald Tungate, East Lansing, MI; Steve Tungate, Coto de Caza, CA; Cindy Tungate, Brookline, MA; and Tracy McNally, Clinton, UT; and their spouses Kathy Tungate, an incredibly dedicated daughter-in-law; Marianne Tungate; Rich Brodsky; and John McNally. He was preceded in death by his parents Verna and Milford Tungate, his brother Wendell (Bub) and sister Shirley. He also leaves his sister Ginny Harrington, and twelve grandchildren - Grant, Katie, Robert, William, Adeline, Jake, Madison, Max, Hannah, Reese, Amelia and Bryan - and two great-grandchildren Ava and Theo, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children. He was also preceded in death by his beloved nephew Robbie Lyman.
A memorial service will be held at a later date so please check back at Baxter Funeral Home for announcements.
Donations toward Youth Baseball can be made in Don’s name to Lakeview Youth Association at the following online links:
Online Paypal:
Or, Access the LYA website: www.lyabattlecreekmi.com and then click on "Donate via Paypal" on the homepage.
Check donations can be sent to: Lakeview Youth Association, c/o Becky Thomas, 140 Morningside Dr, Battle Creek, MI 49015
Arrangements by the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-9800 www.baxterfuneral.com
Don loved baseball. He played throughout his life including at Battle Creek Central, where he was captain for three years, and at Western Michigan, where he was the first in his family to attend college. His baseball claim to fame was hitting a double and a triple off Satchel Paige. He later went on to coach his sons for years. Many boys loved him as a coach and spent many summer evenings at the Tungate house where they talked baseball. He was a regular at Bailey Park and hosted many Stan Musial players. He was inducted into the Stan Musial Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 and was recently inducted into the Battle Creek Central Hall of Fame. He loved watching the Detroit Tigers and listening to them on the radio on summer nights when he was young. He stayed true to the Lions despite many poor performances. He was always aware of “how bad the refs were” when watching his favorite teams and how badly the Tiger managers handled pitchers. He also loved playing golf and was the family organizer of July 4th golf tournaments, complete with prizes and handicapping. He never missed his grandson Grant’s golf matches during college at MSU and caddied for him in Amateur events. For that matter, he never missed an athletic or cheerleading event of his own children, his local grandchildren and later his long-time family friends’ kids. He was known to burn CD’s of old love ballads for family and friends and checked in frequently to ensure they were at the top of their playlists. He watched and recorded all Hallmark movies and replayed them regularly for visiting children who agreed they were the best movies they had ever seen. He insisted only bad luck was the reason he lost a card game. He was a supreme handicapper who always predicted the winner after the race was run. “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” was an affectionate nickname given to him by his kids. His affectionate nicknames for them were Big Sis, Little Sis, and for the boys it depended on what kind of trouble they were getting into with friends.
He loved his hometown of Battle Creek where he raised his family. He worked his way through college working the late-night shift alone at Sullivan’s Ice Cream taking in deliveries before heading to classes in the morning. When his career company Hydreco closed after decades, he chose to stay in Battle Creek instead of moving South so he didn’t have to uproot his family, taking a job with II Stanley. He loved cars and knew a lot about them, always tinkering and fixing problems, which prompted his nickname - Eugenious, the car genius. He was a master draftsman, and at Hydreco he designed a pump which was later used by the company. His natural craftsmanship included beautiful handwriting and creative skills, and he loved designing Halloween costumes for his kids and grandkids. He was a wonderful father who patiently drove on many family vacations across the country to Arizona, the West Coast, and Florida in a station wagon, once expertly steering the car to safety when the brakes went out in a downhill valley. He always knew the best directions for any trip (and provided his input freely), whether across the country or simply across town. He loved playing cards and gambling at the Casino, where he always knew the best slot machines for hitting it big. He was a Battle Creek yoyo champion as a kid and shared his skills with his grandchildren later in life. His love of cars extended to helping his sons build Pinewood Derby cars that won the “big” trophies. He created skating rinks in the backyard when the kids were small and later built a pool in the backyard with the help of his longtime friends, making the Tungate home a popular hangout. He also loved spending time with family at their cottage at Duck Lake. All grandkids remember hanging off his golf cart as he guided them through adventurous drives into the “scary woods” near the cottage.
Don married the love of his life Sandra Lyman in his early twenties. She was feisty to his calm. He affectionately called her “Lightning” throughout their life together. Like many of their lifelong friends, they met at Battle Creek High School. He recently recalled a story of collecting scrap metal near the train tracks with a friend which he sold to raise money to take Sandra to senior prom. Throughout their marriage, he loved to get in his car and go places without warning, prompting Sandra’s often-used phrase, “Has anyone seen Donnie?” In her later years as she suffered from Alzheimer’s, he became her primary care giver which was a real change in their life. A beloved caregiver told the family that she had never seen such a devoted husband care for his wife. He was extremely patient with the challenges of the disease. He loved Lightning and she loved him. Right to the very end, they continued to hold hands together and she would rest her head on his shoulders.
Don is survived by his wife of 67 years of marriage Sandra Lou Tungate, and his four children Michael Donald Tungate, East Lansing, MI; Steve Tungate, Coto de Caza, CA; Cindy Tungate, Brookline, MA; and Tracy McNally, Clinton, UT; and their spouses Kathy Tungate, an incredibly dedicated daughter-in-law; Marianne Tungate; Rich Brodsky; and John McNally. He was preceded in death by his parents Verna and Milford Tungate, his brother Wendell (Bub) and sister Shirley. He also leaves his sister Ginny Harrington, and twelve grandchildren - Grant, Katie, Robert, William, Adeline, Jake, Madison, Max, Hannah, Reese, Amelia and Bryan - and two great-grandchildren Ava and Theo, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children. He was also preceded in death by his beloved nephew Robbie Lyman.
A memorial service will be held at a later date so please check back at Baxter Funeral Home for announcements.
Donations toward Youth Baseball can be made in Don’s name to Lakeview Youth Association at the following online links:
Online Paypal:
Or, Access the LYA website: www.lyabattlecreekmi.com
Check donations can be sent to: Lakeview Youth Association, c/o Becky Thomas, 140 Morningside Dr, Battle Creek, MI 49015
Arrangements by the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-9800 www.baxterfuneral.com