Don Stark

1939 - 2015

DON F. STARK, 76 ROCKFORD - Don F. Stark, 76, of Rockford passed away peacefully at P.A. Peterson Nursing Home on Monday, September 21, 2015. Don was born March 29, 1939, in Edgerton, Wisconsin to Paul and Nora (Johnson) Stark, as the youngest of seven children, with brothers, Paul, Jr. and Fred; sisters, Thelma Stark, Betty Hagen, Meredith Nass-Acey-Duncker and Judith Weber. Don served four years in the Army Reserves and attended Beloit College for two years and in 1965, began working at Chrysler Motors of Belvidere, where he quickly rose to upper management working as an advisor on the prototypes for their new vehicles in Detroit. Don retired in 1999, after 34 years of faithful service to the company. After retirement, Don became very involved at the church where he worshiped, Christ United Methodist of Rockford, attending and leading many spiritual study groups while becoming a Stephen Minister, helping those in need. Don is survived by two children, son, Lonny Stark of Crystal Lake, IL; daughter, Vickey Alexander of Rockford; four step-children that he loved as his own and helped raise, Roger Olson, Scott Olson, Luann Page and Lynn Beaudry. Don also left behind three very special granddaughters, Emily Scott, Chloe Alexander, and Amber Aster (the daughter of Sandy Abrath), who all meant the world to him, with five step-grandchildren that he also cared for very much, Micki Olson, Jeremiah Johnson, Justin Olson, Katie Beaudry (also the mother of his step-great-grandson, Jaydin Beaudry) and Kyra Abrath (also the mother of his step-great-granddaughter, Tessa Shadwell). Don will be remembered as a generous man, always putting the needs of others before himself. Memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 27, 2015, with visitation from 2 p.m. until the service in Christ United Methodist Church, 4509 Highcrest Road, Rockford. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the church or the American Cancer Society. Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory is honored to have assisted the family. To share a memory or condolence, visit honquestfh.com.