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Don Gorney Obituary
Don Gorney age 61 of Scottsdale, Az, passed away unexpectedly on December 30th, 2011. Don was born on February 15th, 1950 in Chicago, Ill. After completing school, Don became a Journeyman Electrician in Chicago local #134. He and his brother Dennis also performed motorcycle stunt shows while living in Chicago. Don moved to Phoenix in 1972 where he managed Oceanside Harley Davidson until 1977 when he started and managed Spa Broker, the first Spa and Hot tub business in Phoenix. In 1981 with a handful of Spa Dealers, Don started and became president of Westwind Engineering , one of the largest spa and hot tub manufactures in the United States. In 1986, Don and his partners sold the spa manufacturing company to The Coleman Lantern Company. Later that year, Don and his business partner then started Unitech Industries building batteries for cell phones, located in Scottsdale Air Park. Unitech Industries expanded their manufacturing to include the transportable telephone along with cell phone accessories and chargers. Don and his partner took the company to an IPO and sold the company in 1995. Don was preceded in death by brother Robert and sister in law Lucille. He is survived by his good friend Sue Abele, his sons Brian, Ron with wife Shannon and grandchildren Keely and Xavier; Brothers Gregg ( Sue) and niece Samantha, twin brother Dennis (Diane) with nephew Jim, Jeff and great nephews Cheyene and Cedar, brother Danny (Melanie), and sister Diane with niece Jamie. Services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 11001 North 40th Street Phoenix, AZ on Friday January 13th, at 10:00 am. Located between Cactus and Shea Blvd. Reception will be held immediately following mass. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Don's name at the Arizona Humane Society.
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Memories and Condolences
for Don Gorney
Sponsored by Dennis Gorney.
Jodie (Honea) Hall
April 20, 2025
So sorry to read this, so many memories of working with you guys and you all were so good to me. So much fun. So many years ago.. at Spa Brokers, Inc.
Blake Willison
January 4, 2025
Wow, time sure goes by fast. Don was a good friend and taught me alot about business. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched.
February 10, 2021
Don, you are still alive in my thoughts, and in my actions in a world that surrounds me. You may have never imagined how much you could have shaped this world among those you have touched, yet here I am in 2021 to remind you that indeed your indelible imprint was deep in the souls of so many. Thanks for the continued memories that I have of you and that I get to share with others.
Your friend
Jonathan Anderson
February 15, 2017
Miss you Brother
Love you forever
Dennis
Shannon Gorney
May 16, 2014
Hey Pops !!
I miss you so much , today's one of those I could use a Don joke or two . Not a day goes by I don't think of you. I'm having a hard time still ! You were the father not just a father in law to me , and a friend . Xxxxooo
s g
November 21, 2013
God Bless you Don.
October 28, 2012
Happy Holloween, Don. I know you loved Halloween.
Miss You.
Susan
SUSAN ABELE
October 27, 2012
MISS YOU, DON
Brother Dennis
February 15, 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DON. MISS YOU DEARLY....
Brother Dennis .....
SUSAN
February 15, 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DON.
TRY TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE TODAY!
WE'RE THINKING OF YOU.
Dan Kukla
January 26, 2012
My deepest condolences to the entire Gorney family. Don was an amazing person. I never met anyone who had the technical know how that he did. He had an imagination that was unsurpassed. he could build or fix anything! I am a better person from knowing him. He was generous,kind and fun loving. May he rest in peace.
January 19, 2012
From the time I could first walk I have always been Amazed by my brother Don. I can recall countless hours of watching him wiring electric panels, working magic with batteries,etc., at the turquoised colored work stations my Grandpa Gorney built for the twins. Growing up around Don(muchless the rest of the crew) was a real treat! Never a dull moment!When we were tag teaming those buckets of water out to the burning garage we were trying not to laugh then! But how? How can 1 person do it twice in one lifetime-burn the garage down? Thanks to Diane B. he was able to salvage more in Scottsdale fire than in Bellwood fire...wich was the mini-bike's fault.Amazing! When Don got to ride his motorcycle into the gym at Proviso West to deliver Santa after a vveerryy nice burnout in the lobby(which I got to witness the tailend of those scuffs when I got to Proviso)AMAZING! Don rode home with a X-mas tree on the back of his bike in a pouring rain-he didn't get the tree wet-AMAZING!Or, when Don's car would only move in reverse...he drove it all the way home in Reverse-Amazing! Don doing motorcycle stunts-that was AMAZING! Don getting Dennis to do stunts with him-AMAZING! Don gave us his first born son-on my (&Danny's) Birthday-AMAZING! Don moving out west-with nothing-AMAZING! Visiting Don on 1st trip out west-he was staying in a mansion!AMAZING! Watching all Don's business start-ups going and growing was AMAZING! Watching Don deal in big business and lots and lots of technology was AMAZING! Don always had a knack to make things work...an idea, a dream, a broken camera, a computer, etc., etc.,AMAZING! Don did a wonderful thing when he took Sue by his side...sue sticking it out all these years, decades-AMAZING! Don having me on his Lake Powell quest list-AMAZING! I finally made good on that offer July'93-AMAZING! Watching Don assemble all those fireworks from scratch with his crew=AMAZING! Them setting the moutainside on fire-AMAZING! So was putting it out!AMAZING! Don steering the big housebout into a tiny cove in the middle of the night-AMAZING!When we all woke in the daylight-we were all AMAZED!In tight spot perfectly!AMAZING! Making sure his niece had a high-tech X-mas gift every year-Amazing! The day he professed to being the Amazing Uncle Don to Jamie on film by lighting up all kinds of bulbs was Amazing!The Host With the Most always filling the needs of others-AMAZING! Watching Don take the blow of Dad's passing...not so amazing. Our hearts all hurt so much together when we must say good-bye to a family member.Don's health declined but never his spirit. He conjured up something out of nothing-Always..AMAZING!Even to his final day working on a piece. Young and old we shared many good times...the fact that I got to have you as one of my most excellent 5 Brothers-AMAZING! TOGETHER IN MEMORIES FOREVER-YOUR ONE AND ONLY "LITTLE SIS" Diane Love You and God Bless You
January 15, 2012
Uncle Don, I will always treasure my fond memories of you...there are so many! Thank you for being in my life! I Love You as Big as the world with all my heart Jamie Lynn Wilson
Pamela Stimmler
January 14, 2012
To Ron, Brian, Sue, and Gorney Family.... My deepest condolences on the unexpected passing of such a funny, caring, intelligent man. I always remember him with a smile. So very, very sorry for your loss.
Lesley Brown
January 14, 2012
My prayers are with you all. My heart goes out to you.
A friend of Nolan and Shannon's.
Robert Porter
January 14, 2012
Sue, I just learned of Don's passing. I'll never forget the fun times in Scottsdale and Don's caring and humorous personality. My sympathy to you and the family. Take care of yourself.
Mike and Nancy
January 14, 2012
So very sorry for your loss. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you...
Gene Graan
January 14, 2012
So sorry to hear about your loss. He will be missed.
Nate Young
January 13, 2012
May God be with you and your family during these difficult times. I was blessed to have known Don through my Mom and cherish the wonderful times we spent with Don & Sue during my visits to AZ. My sympathy goes out to Sue and Don's family, he will always be remembered for the person he was.
Jonathan Anderson
January 13, 2012
Don you were the bright light in the dark of the desert night, 600 million candle watt power if I remember right. You were the North Star among the constellations. I, like a sailor at sea, you were my reference and not just for my job applications but a direction in my life. Your inspiration was contagious, your passion was infectious. Your touch on my family and I will forever be felt. Your light shall always burn bright in all that I have and set out to accomplish.
Rest in peace my friend
Wil and Linda Berry
January 12, 2012
Blessings to the Gorney Family, My husband,Wil and I know Don through our treasured friend, Sue. Sue's e-mail to us about Don's loss was just crushing. As long as we have known Sue, we have "known" Don and cherished him through her memories. Our prayers are holding all of his family and friends, tightly in our prayers. Blessings and Love to all, Linda and Wil Berry
Denise and Brian James
January 12, 2012
What a loss, he was an amazing man.
We will never forget his friendship, kindness and his ability to take anything apart and modify it.
He will truly be missed and will always be in our hearts. Rest in Peace.
Denise and Brian James
Blake and Starla Willison
January 12, 2012
THE GORNEY FAMILY,
STARLA AND I ARE SO SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF DON AND WISH TO
CONVEY OUR RESPECTS AND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS. DON WAS A GREAT FRIEND TO STARLA AND I, AND A
RESPECTED MENTOR TO ME IN MY CAREER IN THE WIRELESS BUSINESS.
HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL THAT KNEW HIM. OUR THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL. SINCERELY
BLAKE AND STARLA WILLISON
Gregg Gorney
January 12, 2012
We will miss you and love you always. Living so far from each other never dimished the feelings and memories that we shared. Bless you, Don. You are forever in the hearts of your family and friends.
We love you,
Gregg, Sue and Samantha
allie maddie brinson
January 12, 2012
Uncle don we have soo many incredible memories of you and suzy! We have all the snow babies and gifts you bought us through the yrs. You are family and we have missed you for a long time. Give our nanna a hug for us. We will never forget you! God speed. Xo allie and maddie brinson.
terri lynn doss
January 12, 2012
Words cannot express the sadness that my heart feels. I have sooooo many memories back to chicago when it all started. Donald and dennis were such risktakers during my familys dragstrip. They both had such passion for their favorite sport of perfecting some unbelievable stunts at our race track. My mother dorothy passed away in 1997. If it weren't for him I never wouldve made it through that rough time in my life. Prior to her death he took us to nyc for the holiday. He documented every moment on video! When my two daughters were little he and Suzie made every christmas so special for us! Sue and don were soulmates and she brought me so much happiness and laughter to my mother and I. Amazing friend. I can't believe your gone. I so regret not keeping in touch through the yrs. They say life begins after death. I believe in eternal life and that in heaven we are reunited with loved ones. I'm certain you are hugging my mother. Give her a kiss for me. Until we meet again leave a light on in heaven for me. My love for you and your family and the memories I have I cherish. Gone too soon. Another angel has earned its wings! One of a kind you are. Love forever and always terri doss maddie and allie.
Bob and Renee Anderson
January 12, 2012
To Susan and Don's family, May God bless you all and our hearts and prayers go out to you. We will have fond memories of Don and our times together.
Marnie Reid
January 11, 2012
"If you miss someone, that means you're lucky. It means you had someone special in your life, someone worth missing." -Anon.
It was heartbreaking to learn that Don is gone. He was always passionate to the point of exhaustion about the things he loved, full of boundless energy and had a steadfast drive to accomplish the things he wanted to. He was also extremely generous and forgivably ornery at times. I will always regret not keeping in touch and really miss him. I guess that makes me – and everyone else that knew him, loved him and misses him – really lucky. Rest in Peace, Don
January 11, 2012
To Susan and Don's family, Don inspired everyone around him, his entrepreneurship and good humor made for great conversation. We were always impressed with his knowledge and compassion. We miss you now, but you're with your friends that preceded you and the ones that will be with you in the future.
~John and Bobbi Abele, Clovis, CA
mike and melissa Sawadski
January 11, 2012
Aunt Sue and Don's Family, We are so sorry to hear the news about Don's passing. We know he is resting peacefully. May memories comfort you all during this difficult time.
January 10, 2012
Dear Gorney Family,
We are very saddened to hear of Don's passing. Your family has endured so many sorrows during the past several years that it hardly seems fair. However, all of us have gotta believe that they are now enjoying a far better place in the kingdom of our Savior, Jesus Christ, for all eternity.
May God Bless ALL of you, especially you, Don, our Arizona Nephew and Cousin.
With Love and Prayers,
Uncle Ray Ritter and Marianne
Mesa, AZ and Darien, IL
and
Lin and Terry Piest, Mesa, AZ
(Originally from Cicero, IL)
Ray & Geri Abele
January 10, 2012
For our sister Susan and Don's family, we wish to extend our deepest sympathy for your loss. Don was a very special person as shown by his kindness to our mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. God's peace to you all.
Carolyn Anderson
January 10, 2012
To my sister Susan and Don's family. Don will always be remembered especially for his gift of love and friendship to our mother and to all of my sons. He injected his zest for life to all of us.
Linda Turner
January 10, 2012
I am sorry to hear of the loss of Don, I will always remember the wonderful times and my sympathy goes out to Sue and the family for your loss of a Great Person!
Dennis Gorney
January 10, 2012
Don you will be in my mind, my heart, and my soul forever.
I will miss you dearly.
Your brother Dennis ......
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