Donald Henry Sowles

Dony Henry Sowles, age 27, of Michigan City, Indiana and formerly of Climax, passed away suddenly June 24 in Fort Wayne, Indiana following a medical challenge related to ulcerative colitis he has battled for a significant period of time. Dony was born on December 16, 1993, the son of Hank and Brenda Sowles.He graduated from Climax-Scotts High School in 2012. He especially enjoyed his time playing football at C-S, where he was named to the Associated Press Division 7 & 8 All-State first team as a starting offensive tackle his senior year. He was also a state champion in the JV Super Heavyweight class in Powerlifting competition his sophomore year and earned All-State status in the sport his junior and senior years. Dony enjoyed having a positive impact on kids through coaching and umpiring. He was an assistant coach at his alma mater Climax-Scotts working with his former varsity football coach Kevin Langs for several years. He later became an assistant varsity football coach at Athens for three years. He was also the JV baseball coach at Athens for two years and later the varsity baseball coach for one year. Dony also worked as an umpire for several years in Battle Creek's Recreational Leagues. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, golfing, playing video games and cribbage after his father Henry, who was taught how to play the game by his father, Donald Sowles, taught him how to play the game at a very young age. Dony was preceded in death by his grandparents, Donald and Doris Sowles and Jerry and Anita Ulrich. He is survived by his parents, Hank and Brenda Sowles, brother Michael Helmer (fiance' Katrina Van Dunk), sister Sondra Helmer, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. A memorial service for Dony will take place Wednesday, July 7 at 11 a.m. at the Climax-Scotts Jr./Sr. High School gymnasium, 372 South Main Street, Climax, with Pastor Beverley Williams, of the Climax and Scotts United Methodist Churches, officiating. Climax-Scotts Athletic Director, varsity football coach and Dean of Students Kevin Langs will also be a speaker. A luncheon will follow in the Jr./Sr. High School cafetorium. Memorial contributions in memory of Dony may be made to the Climax United Methodist Church, 133 East Maple Street, Climax, MI 49034, to assist with funeral arrangements. Interment will take place at Prairie Home Cemetery, in the Village of Climax, at a later date. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Home. https://www.langelands.com