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In memory of
Mr. Donald Charles Duensing
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Donald's obituary
Don was born on March 12, 1928, in Algonquin, IL at his family’s historic Victorian home at 308 S. Main Street. His father operated a local dairy farm and later, with his Uncle Fred, owned the General Store which served the growing township for many decades. The Duensing family was a founding member of the Algonquin State Bank and a founding family of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Don met his first wife, Jane Hesler of Mattoon, IL, at Eastern Illinois University. After college, they settled in Algonquin and raised five children, Thirza, Thomas (Susan), Karen Balzer, David, and Jean (Robert) Durbin. Early in his career, Don was in the food business; he then joined Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent) and built a successful insurance and estate planning practice as a Certified Life Underwriter. Don retired as a Thrivent Hall of Fame member, remembered by many for his vast estate and trust planning knowledge, and generous service to clients and churches.
Following the tragic death of his beloved wife Jane in 1991, Don married his high school classmate, Mary Lou Schif-Howes of Dundee, IL in 1992. Don and Mary Lou continued living and working in IL before retiring to Green Valley, AZ in the mid-1990s. There, they enjoyed a new home, new friends, travel, and many hours of volunteer work for the Desert Hills Lutheran Church. Don continued to work after his retirement as a mentor for Thrivent insurance agents in Arizona until 2014.
Don was a remarkable man in so many ways; a man everyone looked up to, but always felt comfortable around. Beyond his many accomplishments, he will perhaps be remembered best for his genuine warmth and fun-loving nature – a gift of humor and friendliness that always shone through. His joyous personality touched many hearts, right up to his last days.
Don loved people and was always on the go with his work, church activities, family, and friends. He most enjoyed spending time with family, volunteering at both community and church functions, and traveling. As a father, he will be remembered for nicknaming all five children and all grandchildren “George”. Rather than trying to remember individual names, he simply called out “Hey, George!” We all answered, and he then had our attention. Some grandchildren would playfully fight over who was the real George. He loved it! His favorite phrase was, “Remember, don’t sweat the small stuff and everything is small. Be happy!”
Don’s life and spirit are a legacy for his children, stepdaughter Sherri (Don) Meager, grandchildren Benjamin, Timothy, Andrew, Jessica, Oliver, and Austin, step-grandchildren Brian, Rachel, Trent, Keith, Scott, Derek, Corey and Cody, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
The family requests memorials to be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 Jefferson St, Algonquin, IL 60102, or Desert Hills Lutheran Church, 20150 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622.
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Created with love by
Jean Durbin (Donald's daughter) and
Thirza Duensing (Donald's daughter).
