Early Thursday morning, my father, Domingo (Don) Canales, passed away.
He was born at home in Salineño, Texas to Candelario and Teresa Canales, where his family had lived for several generations after having settled there from Northern Spain, in the early 1600s. He was the oldest of 9 children (Domingo, David, Daniel, Develsa, Hector, Victor, Delia, Nestora, and Deomira).
In his youth, he worked on the family ranch and assisted his father and grandfather with their freight business. In 1951 he started working for Lichtenstein’s Department store, working his way up to the Assistant Supervisor. Then in 1952 he was drafted into the US Army.
Domingo completed basic training, then received Military Police training, upon completion he was shipped out to Schwabach, West Germany, where he performed his duties as an MP, patrolled the East/West German boarder and was a law enforcement officer for NATO troops in Germany. He rose to the rank of Sergeant, upon returning to the US, he served as a Drill Instructor and Weapons Instructor, among other responsibilities. He completed his military career and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant E5 (Active Duty and Active Reserve) in 1962.
Upon leaving the military, he moved to Fennville, MI where his family had relocated to while he was overseas. He gained employment at the Blood Brothers Machine Company, which in 1975 became the Rockwell International plant in Allegan, MI. Domingo Graduated from KVCC with a technical degree in mechanical engineering, trade school in tool and die, and spoke four languages.
After surviving a severe car accident in 1963, which left him hospitalized for several weeks, he married his wife (of 61 years) Donna Marie (Westfield) Canales and settled near Dunningville in Allegan County. They had 2 children, Carmen Louise and Carl Dominic.
He was extremely devoted to his family, both immediate and extended. Spending most weekends with his brothers and sisters and their many children, along with their many friends, who were in all respects, other than blood, also family.
My dad was a bit of a car guy. He spent many weekend afternoons cleaning and polishing the family car. Over the years, he owned many cars from the Opel he brought back from Germany, his Ford Thunderbird, Ford Mustang, the multiple limefire green Pontiac Bonnevilles I rode in in my youth, the AMC Matador X, Jeep Comanche truck, his little yellow Toyota pickup, and mom’s Delorian among others.
He also enjoyed boxing. When he was in the Army in Germany, he competed in the Army boxing program and upon his return, he and his friends set up a boxing club in his friend’s barn. Later, though he continued to work out regularly, he no longer boxed, though he did enjoy watching professional boxing.
Though he would rarely express it verbally, those closest to him, knew that he loved his family; His parents, his brothers and sisters, close family friends, his five children; Lou, Liz, Tina, Carmen and Carl; His grandchildren; and his wife of 61 Years, Donna.
He took great pride in his family, memories, appearance, education, home and work.
We loved him very much. He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten.
Visitation will be at Chappell Funeral Home, Fennville, MI, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Domingo’s name to Allegan Dollars for Scholars – allegan.dollarsforscholars.org
