Donald Ford Borchard

Donald Ford Borchard was born August 16,1949, in Saginaw, Michigan to Donald and Betty Jean Borchard. Don passed to the waiting arms of his Savior, Mother and Father on Saturday May 1, 2021. Don leaves behind five siblings, Debbie Home, Tom (Linda) Borchard, Charles Borchard, Sally (Steve) Bradley and Dennis (Betsy) Borchard, and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

Don was born with cerebral palsy which presented challenges to his life both physically and mentally. However, Dons disabilities did nothing to limit the impact he had on his family's life. Don lived a very full life at home with his family until the age of 26 when his transitioned into a group home setting. During his years living at home, he was challenged and encouraged to develop to his full potential. With the love and support of his family, he did just that. He loved his family, his music, and his Detroit Tigers. He could recite the full roster of players from the 1968 team that won the world series.

Don was highly intelligent and embraced the "Borchard" sense of humor. If he was asked his opinion on a topic, he provided you a blunt response. For those that had more of a difficult time understanding him, they would look to family to interpret his comment. We would often have to filter and edit his response. Don would immediately look over at the person doing the interpreting and filtering to let them know he was fully aware that his response was "watered down".

His mother Betty Jean was his true warrior and advocate. Following her passing in 1997, as she watched from heaven, she had to be so proud of her husband and children that rallied around Don and took her torch and carried it forward. Each of his siblings played an integral part in his life One of his greatest joys in life was to spend time with his family. The four siblings that reside in Saginaw, Debbie, Charles, Sally and Dennis, devoted so much of their time not only traveling to visit with him but they would also pick him up for a weekend stay at their homes and the family cottage on Sanford Lake. Tom, who resides in California, was his legal guardian which gave him the opportunity to travel back to visit Don and other family members.

Don was also blessed to have the support of extended family and friends, many that knew him for many years. No one felt uncomfortable around Don. He knew how to read his audience and always did his best to play his audience to his advantage. The Covid Lockdown was extremely difficult on Don. The support team at Brittany Manor was amazing in its efforts to work with Don, given he could have no direct physical contact with his family for over a year. A few weeks back, Don had a regular support meeting at his home, but didn't realize until he arrived in the conference room that two of his brothers were present in person, and the balance of his siblings on Zoom Video. Even though he could not physically touch anyone we could all see the joy in his face as he realized what was transpiring. He leaned his head on the table in front of him and cried. Shortly thereafter he did get a personal visit with his sister Sally and she said that the two of them just hugged and cried for an extended period of time. The human touch was critical to Don's survival.

Don will be missed but we all know he is in a better place and is now "perfect" without any disabilities. Don made everyone that knew him learn how to better appreciate and value their own lives.