Obituary - Donald Ouellette

Donald Joseph Allor Ouellette 

June 25, 1936 – June 27, 2026

Donald Joseph Allor Ouellette (Don) passed away on Saturday, June 27th. in Trenton, Michigan. Don was born in 1936 to Josephine and Victor Ouellette and raised in Amherstburg, Ontario. In 1955, he joined the United States Marine Corps and remained until 1958. Following that, Don trained as a welder and oiler and sailed for years on numerous Great Lakes ships and Ocean Going vessels. A highlight of Don’s career was being part of the crew on the Glomar Explorer, a deep-sea drillship platform built for “Project Azorian,” the secret 1974 effort by the United States Central Intelligence Agency to recover a Soviet submarine. 

Throughout his lifetime, Don had a passion for automobiles and was the proud owner of many vintage models, especially convertibles. This interest led to years of collecting books and ephemera and resulted in a large personal library that he cherished and shared with his family. Don was a true bibliophile who loved to read, enjoyed movies and was a man of great interest in history, geography and animals. His intrigue led him to many world ports with a special affection for the American west. In his retirement he loved to work on his vintage postcard collections of ships and all things, transportation. He developed respectful friendships and loved to share his passion in great storytelling. 

Don was a beloved brother to the late Jack, 2024 (Peg), the late Patricia Bondy, 2026 (the late Paul, 2026), the late Timothy, 1962, Tom (Sandy) and Judy Bezaire (Joel). He was a devoted and proud uncle to the late infant Timothy Ouellette, 1964, John Ouellette (Linda), Michael Ouellette (Monique), Paul Tim Bondy, Peter Bondy, Stephanie Savoni (Peter), Paula Ouellette, Renee Gay, Laurie Ouellette, Kimberly Bezaire (Gerard), Jeffery Bezaire (Fionna) and Brian Bezaire (Cynthia). He was a delightful great-uncle to Shannon and Timothy Ouellette, Jacob and Hanna Ouellette, Charlotte and Jack Savoni, Zachery and Justin Gay, Rhys, Marissa and Marshal Lucas, Michel LeClair, Eric, Ian and Juliette Bezaire and Benjamin and Calla Bezaire. 

Don was nostalgic about his boyhood and teen years in his beloved Amherstburg and Essex County. He adored his Ouellette and MacKenzie families and always made a special effort to keep in touch through postcards, beautifully composed letters and visits whenever he could. 

Don was a curious traveller to the very end and he registered to have his remains donated to the Anatomical Gift program at Wayne State University in Michigan. Beyond this, he requested cremation and a private family interment at St. Rose Cemetery, Amherstburg, Ontario will be held at a later date. 

Rest in peace, sweet one. We will always remember your positive energy, your sense of humour and your determination to live life to the fullest. 

Love, your family.