Donald J. Becker

1936 - 2021

Donald J. Becker
Born: December 21, 1936 in Mendota, Illinois
Died: September 10, 2021 in Galesburg, Illinois
Services For Don will be private. Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial will include Full Military Rites by Mendota V.F.W. Post #4079. Wasmer Funeral Home is privileged to assist the family.
Donald "Don" Becker passed away on September 10th at the age of 84, at Cottage Hospital in Galesburg IL. Although many, including his loving family, didn't know it, Don battled with dementia for years. Don was a private and humble man that worked and ran his own auto repair shop, Becker Automotive, in Mendota, IL since 1974. He ran this business for 45 years until the age of 82. Then he and his wife Maureen Gallagher Becker decided to sell their home and business and retire to the small town of Geneseo.
Don considered doing mission work or studying to become a priest until he met the love of his life, Maureen Gallagher. They were married on February 11th, 1961 and loved and honored each other for the next 61 years. They had three children, Michael (Wendy) Becker of Mendota, IL, Jennifer (Jim) Marmion of Geneseo, IL, and Jill (Bryce) Schmidt of Eldridge, IA.
Don was an extremely talented yet humble man, many, including his wife and children were not aware of most of his amazing accomplishments. At the age of 19, Don was called home from his service in the Army due to the death of his father. Don ran the family farm for several years until he decided to pursue his love of mechanics. He worked for Widmer Buick as well as Schimmer's Chevrolet Buick until he branched out on his own and started Becker Automotive.
Being a talented and mainly self-taught auto mechanic, Don not only fixed cars for others, he was a natural born inventor. He spent much of his quiet time sketching out his ideas on napkins, paper scraps, or anything he could write on. One of his inventions was a part for GM cars that was used for several years. Don's humility kept this quiet. Very few knew of his inventions and accomplishments. Don did not do these things for glory or praise. He simply wanted to make work easier for everyday mechanics like himself.
Don, a natural born teacher, not only taught his children all he knew, he also mentored high school students through a
co-op program with Mendota High School. Over the years, Don passed on his knowledge and love for mechanics to countless young men, many of which are still in that trade.
Survivors include his wife, Maureen of Geneseo; son: Michael (Wendy) Becker of Mendota; 2 daughters: Jill (Bryce) Schmidt of Eldridge, Iowa and Jennifer (Jim) Marmion of Geneseo; grandchildren: Ashley (Zack) Hall, Hannah Becker, Kyle Walter, Anthony (Nina) Marmion, Abbigayle Marmion, Kaitlin Schmidt and Alec Schmidt; one great granddaughter: Sydney Walter; honorary daughter: Catherine (John) McDowell of Mendota; sister: Sylvia Leffelman of Sublette; 3 brothers-in-law: Rick (Gail) Gallagher of Mendota, Tim (Michelle) Gallagher of Visilia, California, and Wesley Gillan of Cherry; along with many nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by: his parents, brother Richard Becker; 2 sisters: Darlene Spriet and Joyce Gillan. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Foundation. Condolences may be left at wasmerfuneralhome.com