Donald F. Zwiers

Donald F. Zwiers
Don Zwiers passed peacefully at Lightways Hospice in Joliet, IL on January 25, 2025, surrounded by loving family who celebrated him for the amazing person he was, at the age of 91. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 31 years, Vera Zwiers, four children Laurie (Tom) Alford, Nancy Zwiers, John (Eileen) Zwiers, and Sally Herman, three stepchildren Bryan (Robin) Slinkard, Lisa (Tim) Sidles, and Regina (Greg) Orasco, ten adored grandchildren Michael, David, Nikki, Grant, Sam, Matt, Dan, Morgan, Jack, and Maddy, and sister, Elaine Yeadon. Born in Harvey, IL to Agnes and Carl Zwiers and raised in North Judson, IN, Don was a first-generation college student, earning a Mechanical Engineering degree from the esteemed Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After an engineering career, including serving as Chief Engineer of Joliet-based Kemlite, Don struck out on his own. Driven by his passion for sustainability, Don founded Deco-Link to save Kemlite's virtually indestructible fiberglass material from the landfills by upcycling it into filler strips for chain link fences. His installations from the 1980's can still be seen at O'Hare and Midway airports today, standing strong. Always bursting with creativity and ever-so-industrious, Don ultimately created countless uses for the fiberglass material-making products for sale and to outfit his own and family members' homes & garages. Don raised his four children with his first wife, Marilyn DeLuca Zwiers in Morris, IL and Park Forest, IL, where he was considered the best dad among his kids and their friends. A kid at heart his entire life, Don loved to play, goof around, and make people laugh. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church (and sang in the choir!) and the Lions Club. He also served on the city's school board. After moving to Joliet in 1985, Don joined the Chamber of Commerce and started attending Ottawa Street Methodist Church, where he met the love of his life, Vera. Don and Vera married in 1993. They were longtime members of Grace Methodist Church, and helped start an ecumenical church service within Essington House. Don's playful and adventurous spirit brought out Vera's adventurous side and they began crisscrossing the country on the back roads, exploring and discovering all along the way. They visited numerous cities and points of interest across all 48 contiguous states. If they saw a brown sign along the highway, that meant something interesting to stop for. Don's open-hearted kindness was obvious to the many people he met in his long full life. With a heart of gold and boundless optimism, he instinctively found ways to support loved ones and strangers alike. He would talk to anybody and everybody, evoking smiles and lifting spirits. A celebration of Don's life would not be complete without remarking on his amazing and joyful work ethic. He poured himself into his work, yes, but he had creative projects going nonstop until his last years. He built an impressive multi-level deck (out of fiberglass, of course), a myriad of bird houses, a bountiful garden, fiberglass storage solutions big and small, an elaborate rain barrel system (in his 80's), and much more. He created fun ways to celebrate his 10 grandchildren: T-shirts with all of their baby footprints; custom stepping-stones for each one; an ingenious measuring system to track and compare grandkids' heights; homemade Christmas ornaments emphasizing his focus on sustainability: and so much more! Certainly, Don's most ambitious passion project was his vision for changing the world. What began as a plan for ensuring everyone had access to healthcare morphed into a grand plan that spanned governmental structures, voting systems, and taxation innovations. Don was the ultimate beautiful soul and his powerful example lives on as inspiration to his children, grandchildren, and many others. Indeed, Don Zwiers left his creative, loving, and playful mark on this world. A Celebration of Don's Life will be held in April, date and location to be announced at a later date. For more information, please call 815-744-0022, or visit www.CHSFUNERAL.com