Donald George Bathgate

1938 - 2018

Donald George Bathgate

Anchor, IL

Donald George Bathgate, 79 of Anchor, IL passed away on April 27, 2018 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Funeral services will be Friday May 4, 2018 at 10 am at St. John's Lutheran Church, Anchor, IL with burial immediately following at St. John's Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the church. Visitation will be Thursday May 3, 2018 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, IL. Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church, Anchor, IL or Unity Point Hospice, Cedar Rapids, IA.

Donald was born on October 13, 1938 to George Archibald Bathgate and Anna Margaret Kornemann Bathgate in Streator, IL. He attended Science Hall Country School for 1st and 2nd grade and Rutland Grade and High School 3rd through 9th grade before graduating from Toluca High School in 1956.

He received a BA Degree in Business Administration and Economics from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA in 1960. During his senior year he was elected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He attended Illinois State University where he earned his MS Degree in Business in 1968.

He married his college sweetheart, Sherilyn Beecher Ashley of Sibley, Illinois on August 14, 1960 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Anchor IL. He is survived by three children. Cynthia Jean (Gary Omar) Bathgate of Cedar Rapids, IA; Kevin Christopher (Tami) Bathgate of Temecula, CA; Carla Ann (Karl) Kinch of Cedar Rapids, IA. Two grandsons, Austin Grant Bathgate and Colton Reed Bathgate of Temecula, CA and one granddaughter Jordan Nichole Kinch also known as his "Bright Eyes" of Cedar Rapids, IA. Two sisters, Sharon Louise (Eugene) Nenne and Margaret Ann (Donald) Stutzman both of Toluca, IL. He is also survived my many nieces and nephews whom he all adored.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sherilyn Beecher Bathgate, his parents George and Anna Bathgate, brothers in law, Norman Ashley and Wesley Ashley; sister in law Caryn Ashley and nephew, Eric Ashley.

In 1960, he began his career as a Business Teacher at William S. Hart High School in Newhall, CA and later served as Dean of Students (1970 - 1973). He went on to be the Assistant Principal at Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, CA (1973 - 1985), and then Principal at Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, CA (1985 - 1993). In 1992, the school was named a California Distinguished High School. He retired in June of 1993.

During his professional years, he was a member of numerous educational organizations, including Phi Delta Kappa and the UCLA Chapter of Delta Pi Epsilon, which presented him the Distinguished Lecturer Award in 1991.

He was a charter member of the Association of California School Administrators serving as Region XIII Treasurer (1980 - 1983), and President (1984 - 1985). He received the Region XIII Administrative Excellence Award in 1982-1983. He served on the California Secondary School Principals committee (1986 - 1992). He served as the Committee chairman during 1991 - 1992.

As a member of the National Association of Secondary Principals, he served as the California representative (1988 - 1991). In 1992 he was a member of an International Study Mission to Australia.

During his career as an administrator he served on five visitation committees of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accreditation Team and six years as a representative to the California Interscholastic Federation of the Southern Section of California. In the summer of 1981, we wrote an Op-ed article for the Los Angeles Times addressing the minimum admission requirements for graduating high school seniors to the University of California. His article was published on September 28, 1981 and was instrumental in a review and change of admission requirements by the University of California.

He was a member of the organizational committee (1961-1962) and a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church in Newhall, CA, where he also served a six year term as Secretary, then President and finally as Chairman of the Building Committee during the construction of the new church building. Later as a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, CA he served as Treasurer (1977-1980) and on various committees.

After retiring, he and Sherilyn moved to rural Anchor, IL. He joined the Rotary Club in Gibson City, IL and served as President (1995 - 1996) and Treasurer (2008-2009). For 12 years he organized the Gibson City Rotary/Big R Charity Golf Scramble. He served on the Rotary District 6490 RYLA Committee and helped plan and lead their first RYLA program in 1997. He served as chairman of the District Interact Committee (1998 - 2003). He we name the Gibson City Rotarian of the Year for 1998-1999. In 2002 he was named to the Rotary District 6490 Hall of Honor and in 2005 was named the District 6490 Rotarian of the Year. In August of 2007 the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International named him a Paul Harris Fellow.

In 1997 Donald was elected to the position of Clerk of Anchor Township. He served 12 years and retired in 2009 and was then elected as a trustee of the Township Board.

Donald was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Belle Prairie Mutual Insurance Company (2002-2015). In November of 2006 Donald was elected to the Board of Directors of the McLean County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans where he served as Assistant Financial Director and as Vice President. In June of 2009 he was elected as a trustee for the Gibson Area Hospital Foundation Board and served on the board in various capacities through 2015. In September of 2015 Donald and Sherilyn moved to Robins, IA to be closer to their family.

Donald was an avid Chicago White Sox fan and enjoyed playing softball and golf. While he had many roles and passions his greatest were as a Husband, Father, Brother and Uncle.

The family would like to thank Unity Point Hospice for their exceptional care.