Dr. Donald Lee Fraser

Donald Lee Fraser, D.O. passed away peacefully with family at his side, October 31, 2023 in Traverse City. He was 86 years old. He is survived by his wife Nancy, three sons Jeffrey (Betsy), Tobin (Gretchen) and Randy (Jody), as well as four grandchildren: Sophie, Sierra, Wiley, and Payson. Also surviving are four of five siblings (Bette Roselle, Roger Fraser, Steve Fraser and Elaine Cameron) and their families, spread across Michigan and beyond. His older brother Leroy preceded him in death at age 87, as did his parents Leslie and Wanda. Born December 31, 1936 into a humble home above a small grocery store in Franklin Village, Michigan, Don attended Birmingham High School, and was elected president of his 1955 graduating class. He met his future wife, Nancy Shelby, while they both attended Western Michigan University, and they were married in 1959. After scraping by financially to get through college and medical school at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, he served a one year medical internship at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital. He was a loving and devoted husband and father who made the most of his time with family, and a funny, caring and attentive grandfather. Dr. Fraser was a well-respected member of the Traverse City community since his arrival in 1965. He was first and foremost a physician dedicated to serving his community. Dr. Fraser was an early member of the medical and management teams at Traverse City Osteopathic Hospital, and spent 36 years in private practice as a family physician. At some point he was introduced to the relatively new concept of hospice care, which meshed well with his holistic, patient-centered approach to medicine. He made an easy transition from private practice to 11 years as the first director of Munson Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Fraser also mentored numerous students as an Associate Clinical Professor for Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the MSU College of Human Medicine. He served on the board at Munson Hospital in later years, and participated in various other medical boards and community leadership groups throughout his professional career. Rotary Club of Traverse City was a large part of Don’s life, where camaraderie and charity are great passions. His many contributions there included serving as president, and performing as the white-suited interlocutor at the annual Rotary Minstrel Show for over 20 years. A lifelong love of music and quality singing voice earned him a place in a small vocal group during his high school years with Noel ‘Paul’ Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. Don continued to sing in various barbershop quartets until well into his seventies. Don was a passionate lover of the outdoors, with much time spent walking wooded trails, exploring lakes and rivers on the family boat, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling, and volunteering with the Inland Seas Education Association both on the board, and aboard school ships inspiring environmental stewardship in youth. He also spent countless hours caring for the lawn and foliage surrounding their Old Mission Peninsula home of 58 years, and small cabin on the Rapid River. He was a football fan, lover of food, terrorizer of grass, snow removal expert and tinkerer extraordinaire. But more than that, he was friendly and open to all he met. He was a engaged and empathetic listener, a mentor to many, and a champion of community health programs that continue to improve the lives of residents near and far. A visitation at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City is scheduled for 4pm to 6pm, Thursday, November 16. A memorial and celebration of life will be held at 2pm Saturday, November 18, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse, with family visitation beginning one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a charitable donation to the hospice organization of your choice in your community

Dr. Donald Lee Fraser

December 31, 1936 - October 31, 2023