1922
Douglas
2014
Douglas Borst
November 22, 1922 — January 30, 2014
Biography Douglas Borst, age 91, formerly of Niles, went to be with the Lord peacefully at 5:17 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at the Hospice Homestead in Waynesville, NC.
Doug was born November 22, 1922,to the late Orville and Olga Borst in Cadillac, MI. After graduating from Cadillac High School in 1941, he moved to Niles, MI. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served his country in the pacific theater from 1942-1945.
After the war he returned to Niles and married Virginia Hope Holmes, who preceded him in death after 61 years of marriage.
Doug was blessed with three children, Janis/Philip Nelson of Niles, Mark/Diane Borst of Niles, and James /Amy Borst of Waynesville, NC. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Kim/Chris Gallup, Philip/Tanya Nelson and David/Ruenette Nelson, Mark Borst Jr, Andrew/Jamie Borst and Elizabeth Borst, along with seven great- grandchildren, Charles and Kristen Gallup, Katherine and Zachary Nelson, Natalie and Andi Rose Borst and Vivianne Nelson.
From 1950-1955, Doug worked as a custodian at Eastside School in Niles. At age 32, he moved the family to Kalamazoo so he could attend Western Michigan College to become a speech therapist. After graduating from Western in 1959 he was able to secure the job of speech therapist with the Niles Public School system, where he taught for 21 years until he retired in 1980.
Doug and Hope retired to Florida where they lived until 2007 when Hope passed away. Shortly after that he moved to North Carolina to live with his son Jim.
Doug had a real passion for the Lord, going on many mission trips. He was also passionate about music. He was in a quartet with his brother Bard called the Four Bards. They competed and won a contest on the Arthur Godfrey Show. Also Doug directed the choir at Bertrand Bible Church, and played many instruments. He was also a band director/literature teacher at a mission school in the Bahamas. He sang solos in church up until he was 90. In his retirement years, Doug and Hope sang and played instruments with his brother Bard Borst and wife Alyce. They called themselves “The Borst Brothers and Two Others”. Doug was a hugger, and a story teller. He never failed to have a story or joke to tell you when you talked to him. He loved his family very much and he will be sorely missed by many.
Cremation has already taken place and a memorial service will be held in North Carolina at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to any Hospice or Gideons International.
Doug was born November 22, 1922,to the late Orville and Olga Borst in Cadillac, MI. After graduating from Cadillac High School in 1941, he moved to Niles, MI. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served his country in the pacific theater from 1942-1945.
After the war he returned to Niles and married Virginia Hope Holmes, who preceded him in death after 61 years of marriage.
Doug was blessed with three children, Janis/Philip Nelson of Niles, Mark/Diane Borst of Niles, and James /Amy Borst of Waynesville, NC. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Kim/Chris Gallup, Philip/Tanya Nelson and David/Ruenette Nelson, Mark Borst Jr, Andrew/Jamie Borst and Elizabeth Borst, along with seven great- grandchildren, Charles and Kristen Gallup, Katherine and Zachary Nelson, Natalie and Andi Rose Borst and Vivianne Nelson.
From 1950-1955, Doug worked as a custodian at Eastside School in Niles. At age 32, he moved the family to Kalamazoo so he could attend Western Michigan College to become a speech therapist. After graduating from Western in 1959 he was able to secure the job of speech therapist with the Niles Public School system, where he taught for 21 years until he retired in 1980.
Doug and Hope retired to Florida where they lived until 2007 when Hope passed away. Shortly after that he moved to North Carolina to live with his son Jim.
Doug had a real passion for the Lord, going on many mission trips. He was also passionate about music. He was in a quartet with his brother Bard called the Four Bards. They competed and won a contest on the Arthur Godfrey Show. Also Doug directed the choir at Bertrand Bible Church, and played many instruments. He was also a band director/literature teacher at a mission school in the Bahamas. He sang solos in church up until he was 90. In his retirement years, Doug and Hope sang and played instruments with his brother Bard Borst and wife Alyce. They called themselves “The Borst Brothers and Two Others”. Doug was a hugger, and a story teller. He never failed to have a story or joke to tell you when you talked to him. He loved his family very much and he will be sorely missed by many.
Cremation has already taken place and a memorial service will be held in North Carolina at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to any Hospice or Gideons International.
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