Donald Albert Werner, Jr.

Donald (Don) Albert Werner Jr., age 67, of rural Manhattan passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at his home. Don was born on February 28, 1958, the son of Donald A. Werner (Sr) and Betty K. (Lichtenwalter) Werner. On July 19, 1980, Don married Debbie (Carstens) Werner, whom survives and they had just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this past summer.

Don is also survived by his two sons and their wives, Bradford (Nina) Werner and Jeremy (Tiffany) Werner and his four loving grandchildren Torin, Lilly, Lucas and Isla Werner. Don is also survived by his two sisters, Debbie (Bill) Hackman and Dawn (Greg) Krantz and his nephews Jase (Laura) Hackman, Brett (Chanel) Krantz, Brandon (Kristin) Krantz, Matt (Micaela) Zimmer and niece, Justina Hackman and numerous great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his Aunt Carol and Uncle Lou Kish and their cousin Jodi of Arizona and his Aunt Karen Lichtenwalter of Maine and cousins Brenda and Bobby.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Betty Werner, his brother Brad, his in-laws Tuffy and Mary Carstens and brother-in-law Bruce Carstens.

Don was a 4th generation farmer and farmed his entire life in the Werner Farms operation from the Manhattan Township area farming up to 7000 acres over the years from New Lenox and Manhattan down to the south farms near the Herscher/Clifton/Cabery area. Farming was Don's passion and his hobby for just over 50 years.

Don was a history buff and family history buff and also loved to U-Tube videos on his Ipad (lovingly known as Farm Porn by his family) each evening to educate himself on farming practices throughout the agricultural industry. Don was an avid Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox fan as well as an Illini football and basketball fan. He loved watching his sons play football and basketball while they were in high school and talking to his sons and his friends on a daily basis and staying connected with them in their farming operations and/or their careers.

Don was a member of the Will County Farm Bureau for almost 50 years joining as a young farmer in 1978 and he and his wife Debbie became good friends of many members of that group as they gathered together quite often throughout the years. Don was a lifelong member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Manhattan where he served as council president in the 1990's and volunteered his time snowplowing the church parking lot for many, many years. Don was a Peotone FFA alumni member and supporter, a member of the board of the Cenagewine Drainage District and a member of the Will County Thresherman's Assn. In 1995, Don and Debbie were awarded the 1995 Illinois Outstanding Young Farmers Award and have been a member of that organization since then. Don was instrumental in constructing the "Brad Werner" memorial park by donating the land it sits on with the Village of Symerton along with his parents and the Village of Symerton in memory of his brother, Brad. Don supported Debbie in her efforts as a board member in fundraising for Tractors for a Cure for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and also with her efforts as a board member of the Will County Farm Bureau Foundation in fundraising for their scholarship fund.

Don loved his family, his friends and farming (the three F's). He made many lifelong friends from farming over his lifetime. Don especially loved his grandchildren who were a joy to him and he loved giving them tractor or combine rides in the spring or fall. Don was very proud of his sons and what they have accomplished with their careers and families. Don was a man of few words at times but also on another day could talk your heads off on any subject especially on farming, family history and happenings in the world. Don was just starting to work on his retirement plan and was going to devote more time to travelling with his wife Debbie this winter but God had other plans.

Visitation for Don will take place on January 2, 2026 from 3-8:00pm at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, Manhattan with funeral services the following day, January 3, 2026 also at the funeral home at 10:00am. Interment Peotone Cemetery, Peotone, IL immediately to follow.

Memorials can be made to Tractors for a Cure for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Will County Farm Bureau Foundation for their scholarship fund, St. Paul's United Church of Christ or to the Village of Symerton for the Brad Werner memorial park fund. Arrangements entrusted to Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State St., Manhattan, IL 60442, 815-478-3321, www.forsythegouldfh.com.