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Obituaries » Dana R. and Donna J. Underwood
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Show Obituaries Show Guestbook Show Photos QR Code PrintA memorial service will be held March 25, 2017 at 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, MI.
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Donna Jeanne (Speerman) Underwood died peacefully on September 16, 2016, and was joined in death and life everlasting by her husband Dana Roland Underwood on December 26, 2016. Dana R. was born April 23, 1931, the second of five children to Dana Herbert and Alta (Van Riper) Underwood in Owosso, Michigan. The following year, Donna was born January 30, 1932, only child of Ted and Ruth (Bosserdet) Speerman, also in Owosso. Thus began their life-long friendship, love and dedication to each other. They attended Owosso High School where Dana R. discovered tennis, an activity he enjoyed into his 80’s, and Donna her love of music through the clarinet and piano. They graduated in 1949 receiving scholarships to the University of Michigan where they studied mathematics, and Donna discovered live theater, as a set and costume designer, a director, and forever an appreciative theater-goer. They graduated with degrees in mathematics and Donna turned to teaching at Edsel Ford High School. Dana worked briefly at Willow Run before joining IBM as an applied mathematician. They were married in Ann Arbor in 1955, and moved to Pleasantville, NY to raise a family. Throughout their subsequent moves to Dallas, TX, White Plains, NY, and back to Ann Arbor, they never outgrew their Midwest values or their faith in the power and grace of the Lord. They welcomed guests from all over the world to a house alive with laughter and music, and they remained active in their communities and church, giving back in countless ways all the days of their lives. Grateful for having shared in Donna and Dana R.’s lives are daughter, Dana Elizabeth (Chris) Underwood of Kalamazoo, MI; son, Colin Andrew (Reiko Tanese) Underwood and children, Katie, Ellie, and Sophie of Briarcliff Manor, NY; son, Scott (Mary) Coley and children Isaiah, Khadijah and Steven of Bolingbrook, IL; and the dearest, Zhihua (Hai) Tang; as well as Dana R.’s siblings, Joyce Wisecup, Jo Dickerman, Patricia (Marv) Sanders, David (Joy) Underwood, and many nieces and nephews, and friends around the world.