Don Raymond Hegenbart

Don Raymond Hegenbart, 93, of Silvis, IL, died Friday, April 2, 2010, at Genesis Medical Center in Silvis. Per his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. A Memorial Celebration of his life will be held Saturday, April 17th, at 11:00 a.m., at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline, IL. Inurnment will be in Rose Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Moline. Memorials may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church, Father Flanagan's Boys Town, or to a favorite charity that promotes wildlife conservation. Don Raymond Hegenbart was born in Champaign, IL, on May 23, 1916, to Frank A. and Cecil W. (Hart) Hegenbart. On January 15, 1936, in Covington, IN, he married Martha Marie Hoy, who preceded him in death on May 16, 2007. As a young man, he had a passion for baseball, and played and pitched on several baseball leagues, and later volunteered as a coach. After his marriage, he farmed for several years in the Urbana, IL, area. In the late 40's through the 50's, he and a partner were the owners and operators of the R&R Locker Service in Port Byron, IL. During this time, along with his late wife, Martha, he also took care of Archie Allen YWCA Camp in Port Byron. He was active in many civic projects. They were members of the Port Byron Methodist Church, and after moving to Moline, they were members of Aldersgate Methodist Church, now the Riverside United Methodist Church in Moline. After selling the Locker Service, he worked for 15 years for the Turnstyle Company, until his retirement. He enjoyed gardening, nature, traveling, writing, and his family. He was a wonderful, caring, generous, patient person, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather; he will be greatly missed. Survivors include: two daughters: Donna (Buysse) (Wayne) Stoppelmoor of Silvis, and Janis (fiance Jim Brown) Irwin of Colona, IL; a son: David (Linda) Hegenbart of Albuquerque, NM; seven grandchildren: Kerry (Jim) Marolf of Rock island, IL, Dee (Paul) Strong of Littleton, CO, Todd (Amy) Irwin of Houston, TX, Joe (Belinda) Irwin of Moline, and Darin (Sharon) Hegenbart, and Tracy (Martin) Mohr, all of Winter Garden, FL; twelve great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Joseph and Richard, Sr Hegenbart, and a grandson, Drew Irwin.