Donald C. Perné

Donald C. Perné, born March 16, 1929, answered God’s call to Heaven and life eternal on March 21, 2015, with his daughter, Lori, and his granddaughter, Heather, by his side. Don entered college at Michigan State University on a music scholarship. He was the drum major for the marching band before he developed his love for the game of golf. Focusing more of his time on golf, and less on music, he became captain of his college golf team in 1951. So began a lifelong passion for the game of golf. He began his career as a golf professional in 1953 when he became the Head Golf Professional at St. Clair River Country Club in St. Clair, Michigan. One year, during the off-season, he played the PGA tour, taking his young family with him. Living out of a suitcase and traveling from tournament to tournament was not something he enjoyed. It didn’t take long for him to realize the golf tour was not for him. In 1964, he accepted the Head Professional position at the prestigious Shaker Heights Country Club in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After ten years as Head Professional, he was asked to serve as General Manager of the Club. While successful as the club’s General Manager, he preferred his position as Golf Professional. After serving three years as Shaker’s General Manager, he left for a position as Head Professional at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey, later moving to Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1981, longing to return to the Midwest, he accepted the position as Head Professional at the historic Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. While at Inverness, he hosted the 1986 and 1993 PGA Championships. Don greatly improved Inverness’ caddy program and was proud to see many Inverness caddies receive the Evans Scholarship Award. Don’s caddy program at Inverness was considered the number one caddy program in the country and was used as a model for the Evans Scholarship Program. Don retired from Inverness in 1993. Don was known by his peers as the consummate professional. He excelled in all aspects of the golf business and was an outstanding instructor and promoter of the game. His ethical standards were high. In 1975 he founded the Professional Golf Management (PGM) Program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. This unique program enables its students to earn a bachelors degree in business while interning under PGA professionals. Since its inception, the PGM program is now taught at universities across the country. Don considered the PGM program at Ferris his most significant contribution to the game. Don had a notable playing career and still holds the course record of 61 at St. Clair River Country Club. He was very active in the PGA, both on the local and national level. He taught business schools for the PGA all across the country and served on the PGA National Education Committee. He was very proud to become one of the first six golf professionals in the country to earn the designation as a PGA Master Professional, the highest ranking a PGA professional can attain. Don was advised by legendary PGA member, Horton Smith, to always give back to the organization that had offered so much to him, and he certainly took this advice to heart. Don served on the Education Committee in each of the four PGA sections he was a member of. He was a highly sought out instructor at PGA business schools across the country and was President of the Northern Ohio PGA section. Mr. Smith’s advice came full circle in 1992 when the PGA of America presented Don with the Horton Smith award, given annually to a PGA member who has made “outstanding and continuing contributions to PGA education.” In 1993, Don was inducted into the Northern Ohio Golf Hall of Fame and in 1997, the Northern Ohio PGA recognized Don for his outstanding achievements as a competitive player. Don was inducted into the Toledo Golf Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2012, Don was inducted into the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame. Don has often said that he never felt like he worked a day in his life. He attributes this to working in a profession he loved so much. He encouraged his children to find their niche in life and pursue that as their life’s work. As an avid lifelong bridge player, he enjoyed playing bridge at the Sylvania Senior Center and with the Epworth Men’s Bridge Group, through which he formed many lasting friendships. Don was a loving and supportive husband, father and grandfather. His family was his pride and joy and while he was proud of his own accomplishments and recognitions, he was most proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren whom he loved dearly. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Louise, and his parents, Frank and Lucille. Don is survived by his daughter, Lori, son, Dale (Gayle), daughter, Nancy (Tim), seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, brother, Ford (Betty), and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of Don’s life will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 W. Central Ave., Toledo, Ohio. A luncheon will immediately follow the service. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the PGM Program at Ferris State University, 1506 Knollview Drive, Big Rapids, Michigan, 49307, Epworth United Methodist Church or ProMedica Hospice, 5577 Monroe St., Sylvania, OH 43560. The Walker Funeral Home, Toledo, (419-841-2422) is assisting the family. Online condolences can be expressed at walkerfuneralhomes.com. Dear Dad, Until we meet again, I wish you many great rounds of golf on Heavens courses and perhaps a hole-in-one or two. You might want to consider giving God a playing lesson - you never know, He just might have called you home to help Him improve His game.