Donald E. Ellinghausen Sr.

1927 - 2021

Donald E. "Don" Ellinghausen, Sr., 93, passed away on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at St. Patrick's Residence in Naperville. He was born December 11, 1927 in Batesville, IN to Edwin "Jack" and Beryl Stille Ellinghausen, who moved to Pekin in 1930. He graduated from Pekin Community High School and served in the U.S. Navy in the final months of World War II to November 1947. He married Bettye Schueler on June 17, 1950 in Pekin. He is survived by her and their eight sons: Don Jr. (Pam) of Grand Rapids, MI; David of Livonia, MI; Stephen (Rita) of Chandler, AZ; James (Joan) of Naples, FL; Thomas (Norma) of Phoenix, AZ; Andrew (Carole) of Greenwood, IN; Michael (Karen) of Indianapolis, IN; and Matthew (Patrycja) of Delaware, OH, as well as grandchildren Christopher, Zach, Lauren (Chris) Mataja, John, Stephen, Abigail, Evan, Adam, Maxwell and Olivia. He is also survived by two brothers: Robert (Karen) of Fernando Beach, FL and Dale (Lynn) of Brent, AL, as well as many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his brothers Wayne and Ron, as well as daughter-in-law Mary Sullivan (David). He worked in sales and marketing for Keystone Steel & Wire Company of Peoria for 46 years, residing in Grand Rapids, Farmington, and Plymouth, Michigan; Peoria; and Crawfordsville, Indiana, before retiring in Naperville. Work and retirement allowed he and Bettye to travel to all of the U.S., Canada and Europe. He compiled genealogies of the Ellinghausen and Schueler families, and visited the towns of their European ancestors. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Naperville, where he served as a lector, commentator and Eucharistic minister. In his later years, he especially enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs win the World Series and taking part in an Honor Flight celebration in Washington, D.C.

A memorial service will be held at St. Patrick's Residence in Naperville at a later date. Abts Mortuary in Pekin will oversee graveside services at St. Joseph Cemetery, Pekin.

Local arrangements by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Naperville, IL.

For more information, please visit www.friedrich-jones.com or call (630) 355-0213.