William (Bill) Ray Donels
July 30, 1941 (Ames, Iowa) - March 9, 2020 (Springfield, Illinois)
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Parents: Ray O. and Evelyn Hurlbut Donels
Spouse: Carolyn "Sue" Wilken Donels Children: Jeff (Paige Lichens) Donels of Alexandria, VA; Greg (Paula Riggins) Donels of Chicago; and daughter, Kristin (Brendan) Reilly of Chicago College Attended: Iowa State University Occupation: Designer of Rest Areas for Illinois, Landscape Architect for Department of Natural Resources, and Illinois Trails Program Director |
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OBITUARY
William “Bill” Ray Donels, 78, of Springfield, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 9, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Bill was born July 30, 1941, in Ames, Iowa, the son of Ray O. and Evelyn Hurlbut Donels. He married Carolyn “Sue” Wilken on December 28, 1963, in Elmhurst, Illinois. Bill and Sue met their freshman year at Iowa State University. A college friend recently recalled – Bill worked for a bakery and “Sue would ask me to stand with her on the sidewalk in front of Roberts Hall, dawdling as long as possible on the chance that the bread truck he was driving would come by.”
Bill earned his B.S. from Iowa State University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After designing Rest Areas for Illinois DOT, he served as a Department of Natural Resources Landscape Architect and Illinois Trails Program Director.
Bill was an Elder and active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church; past chair and member of the Springfield Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council; Springfield Bicycle Club member; Lincoln Memorial Garden Board member; Cub Scout Leader and past moderator of First Congregational Church. Bill had the wisdom to appreciate life’s simple certainties and was kind, gentle, and delighted in family and many friends.
He was a loving husband to Sue Donels of Springfield; and adoring father to his sons, Jeff (Paige Lichens) Donels of Alexandria, VA; Greg (Paula Riggins) Donels of Chicago and; and daughter, Kristin (Brendan) Reilly of Chicago. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Ranney Donels.
Private family inurnment will be held at the Westminster Columbarium Memorial Garden.
A Celebration of Life for Bill will be held Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield, which will be followed by a reception in Parish Hall. Additionally, all are welcome to attend a bench and plaque dedication ceremony at 2:00 PM on the Sangamon Valley Trail near Centennial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church Disaster Relief Fund, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield, IL 62704, Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., Springfield, IL 62712, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, 3 W. Old Capitol Plaza, P.O. Box 5191, Springfield, IL 62701, or the Springfield Bicycle Club, P.O. Box 13035, Springfield, IL 62791-3035.
William “Bill” Ray Donels, 78, of Springfield, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 9, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Bill was born July 30, 1941, in Ames, Iowa, the son of Ray O. and Evelyn Hurlbut Donels. He married Carolyn “Sue” Wilken on December 28, 1963, in Elmhurst, Illinois. Bill and Sue met their freshman year at Iowa State University. A college friend recently recalled – Bill worked for a bakery and “Sue would ask me to stand with her on the sidewalk in front of Roberts Hall, dawdling as long as possible on the chance that the bread truck he was driving would come by.”
Bill earned his B.S. from Iowa State University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After designing Rest Areas for Illinois DOT, he served as a Department of Natural Resources Landscape Architect and Illinois Trails Program Director.
Bill was an Elder and active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church; past chair and member of the Springfield Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council; Springfield Bicycle Club member; Lincoln Memorial Garden Board member; Cub Scout Leader and past moderator of First Congregational Church. Bill had the wisdom to appreciate life’s simple certainties and was kind, gentle, and delighted in family and many friends.
He was a loving husband to Sue Donels of Springfield; and adoring father to his sons, Jeff (Paige Lichens) Donels of Alexandria, VA; Greg (Paula Riggins) Donels of Chicago and; and daughter, Kristin (Brendan) Reilly of Chicago. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Ranney Donels.
Private family inurnment will be held at the Westminster Columbarium Memorial Garden.
A Celebration of Life for Bill will be held Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield, which will be followed by a reception in Parish Hall. Additionally, all are welcome to attend a bench and plaque dedication ceremony at 2:00 PM on the Sangamon Valley Trail near Centennial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church Disaster Relief Fund, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield, IL 62704, Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., Springfield, IL 62712, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, 3 W. Old Capitol Plaza, P.O. Box 5191, Springfield, IL 62701, or the Springfield Bicycle Club, P.O. Box 13035, Springfield, IL 62791-3035.