Donald Gene Rigoni

Donald Gene Rigoni, 84, of Tucson, Arizona passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 5, 2024. Don, or Gonze as he was affectionately known, led a long and full life that began with humble roots in Lockport, Illinois where he skated on the frozen canal in the winter and ate so many peaches during the summer that according to his mother, "they were coming out of his ears."

After graduating from high school he joined the navy in hopes of seeing the world, which he did. He brought back souvenirs and home movies from Egypt and tales of sleeping in the bunks of a submarine. Upon completing his two-year tour in the Navy, he took classes in the latest technology: computers. At one of his first computer programming jobs in a local hospital, he went on a blind date with a nursing student, Janet, who would become his wife of 39 years.

Don's career took him to Chicago, Illinois; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Sierra Vista, Arizona; and Worms, Germany. As much as his work kept him busy, he always found time to fix the leaky faucet, repair the car, and be a friend to all who met him.

Retirement called in 1995, and a new journey began, perhaps one of the hardest of his life - caring for his ailing wife. Don cared for his wife better than any nurse until her untimely death in 2002. Several years prior, Don and Janet moved to the retirement community of Saddlebrooke in Tucson, Arizona, where he spent the last 25 years of his life.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Carlo and Rena Rigoni and his wife Janet. He leaves behind his daughters Tina Eden (Tom) of Niwot, Colorado, Marcy Rigoni of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Carla Obertyniuk (Jerry) of Chandler, Arizona. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Sofi and Helen Halpin, and Julia Eden, and Sophia and Spencer Obertyniuk. He leaves behind his partner of 20 years Sheri Berman and his sisters-in-law Nancy Moorman and Carol Zupancic.

Don will be sorely missed, and we hope that all who knew him can be comforted by the knowledge that he lived a long and fulfilling life, surrounded by family and friends from beginning to end.