Donald Allen Forney

FORNEY, Donald A.

December 20, 1936 – November 22, 2018

Donald A. Forney passed away peacefully at the age of 81 and now joins his loving father, Merle, and mother, Hildegarde. He is survived by his former wife Joyce, his five children, Tim, David, Donna, Daniel, and Joel, and nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Christopher, Alex, Olivia, Laura, Zack, Tyler, Lydia, Ali,  and three great-grandchildren, Trinity, Chris, and Alistar. 

Born in Oak Park, Il, and raised in Berwyn, Il., Don attended Jefferson Elementary School in Berwyn,  and graduated from Morton East High School in Cicero. He attended Valparaiso University and graduated from Bradley University, Peoria, Il. with a degree in Industrial Education.  He worked at Sears Roebuck and Company for 27 years starting in the stores selling paint and retiring as a Buyer at the National Headquarters Sears Tower.

A long-time resident of Riverside, Il., after retiring from Sears, Don spent over 10 years as the Assistant Building Inspector there. Most recently, he resided in Lombard, Il. where he enjoyed a busy schedule of activities.  

Don had a strong faith in Christ and attended Ascension Lutheran Church in Riverside, Il. serving as its President several times, acting as a Deacon, and assistant to the Pastor during services. He was a founding member of Angels in Blue Jeans, a church group that provided home maintenance and performed odd jobs for church members. He was active in the Appalachia Service Project, leading teams of high school and college aged students who volunteered their time on construction projects in Eastern Kentucky. He served as the President of a local chapter of Thrivent Financial for several years.

Don enjoyed playing the guitar, canoeing in the Boundary Waters National Park, watching his children and grandchildren play high school and college sports or act in park district plays, and rehabbing and flipping homes.

He will be interred at the Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery in Oakbrook Terrace, Il.  

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