Timothy "Tim" Paul MacDonald

Timothy “Tim” Paul MacDonald, age 70 of Fremont, formerly of Alaska, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 8, 2024 at his home.  Tim was born on December 9, 1953 in Fremont to Paul Mills and Wanda J. (Moore) MacDonald and graduated from Fremont High School in 1972.  Tim later attended Muskegon Community College, University of North Carolina, Northern Michigan University and received his PhD in Education from the Southern University of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  Tim had a distinguished sports career and loved baseball, football and wrestling which started as a young child in Fremont where he was a two-time All State Wrestler, later a two-time All American at Muskegon Community College and National Champion as a sophomore and later wrestled at Northern Michigan University and also coached at the University of Nebraska.  Tim moved to Alaska where he had been a Teacher, Principal, Superintendent, and School Psychologist for many years in various areas until his retirement. 

While in Alaska he met his life partner Shirley Harris on Prince of Wales Island, also a teacher at the time and they taught and moved throughout Alaska. Together they owned and operated Mac’s Fish Camp and chartered the Red Rider boat for many years.  Tim and Shirley moved back to Fremont in 2021 where they built a home and took over the “old MacDonald Farm on 56th Street Farm”.  Tim always had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.

Tim is survived by his life partner of 27 years, Shirley Harris of Fremont; his sisters and brother, Jeanine Oswald of Fremont; Denise MacDonald of Grand Rapids; Burton (Rebecca) MacDonald of Fremont; Suzanne (Dean) Maring of White Cloud; Amy MacDonald of Croton; his sister-in-law, Jodi MacDonald of Fremont; brother-in-law, Pastor Jerry (Denna) Harris of Clinton, South Carolina; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews and special friends.  Tim was preceded in death by his sister, Marcia MacDonald and brother, Michael E. MacDonald. 

VISITATION : Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:45 pm at the Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel 7193 W 48th Street Fremont MI 49412.  CELEBRATION OF TIM’S LIFE : Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel.  MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : To the Fremont Little Leage (checks payable to Crandell Funeral Home) OR Fremont Wolf Pack Wrestling Program (checks payable to Fremont Wolfpack Wrestling) OR Fremont Area Community Foundation for Newaygo County Promise Zone Scholarship Program.  Friends may send a condolence or share a memory of Tim online at www.crandellfh.com.  Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home – Fremont Chapel.  231-924-0800.  

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