The Life of DONALD GEORGE KLISARES
Don Klisares passed away Sunday morning at his home. He was 83 years of age. Don was born in Des Moines, Iowa on July 30, 1932, the son of Pete and Lorna Klisares.
Don graduated from Des Moines Technical High School and Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Labor and Industrial Management from the University of Iowa.
He married Marilyn Hull on August 29, 1954 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She passed away in 1963. He then married Marianne Schikowski on October 8, 1966 in Decatur, IL. Don and Marianne devoted their lives to raising their five children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Lorna Klisares, two brothers, Jack and Bob Klisares, a sister, Donna Colleen Munzenmaier, a grandson, Austin Klisares and a daughter-in-law Paula Klisares.
He is survived by his wife, Marianne, one brother, Pete (and Bev) of Columbus, OH; four sons, Steven of Dunlap, Illinois, David (and Kathy) of San Juan Capistrano, California, Tim (and Michelle) of Aurora, Illinois, and Graham (and Chris) of Pinetop, Arizona. He is also survived by one daughter, Kathryn Spitznagle (and Scott) of Edwards, Illinois. Don also had fourteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Don joined Caterpillar just after he graduated from the University of Iowa and worked there for thirty six years, retiring in 1992. He worked at Mossville, East Peoria, Decatur, York, and had several assignments in General Offices. Most of his time was spent in the area of employee relations but he also was a superintendent in materials department for four years and retired as a Division Manager from Corporate Information Services.
Don was training manager at the Decatur plant for ten years. He taught as a part time instructor in Bradley University’s evening program for several years in the school of business. He was one of the founding board members which gave birth to Richland Community College in Decatur. He was elected to the Community College Board twice and also served on the Lutheran School Board while in Decatur.
One of Don’s hobbies was genealogy. He and Marianne enjoyed traveling to explore their family history and made several trips to Greece and Ireland in search of his family’s roots.
He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He spent many hours with his brothers, sons, grandchildren and friends in the woods or on the water.
Don was a Christian. He belonged to several different churches. He was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church but worshiped most of his adult life as a Methodist or Lutheran. He has been a member of the First Federated Church of Peoria for the past few years.
He will be cremated and part of his ashes will be buried in the Columbarium at the First Federated Church. The rest of his ashes will be buried with his family at Highland Memorial Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa.
His memorial service will be at the First Federated Church of Peoria at 12:00 p.m. Thursday June 16th. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Federated Church, 3601 N Sheridan Rd, Peoria, IL or “Klisares Family Endowment Fund” at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa.
Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home (Peoria, IL) is honored to service the Klisares family.
Don graduated from Des Moines Technical High School and Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Labor and Industrial Management from the University of Iowa.
He married Marilyn Hull on August 29, 1954 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She passed away in 1963. He then married Marianne Schikowski on October 8, 1966 in Decatur, IL. Don and Marianne devoted their lives to raising their five children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Lorna Klisares, two brothers, Jack and Bob Klisares, a sister, Donna Colleen Munzenmaier, a grandson, Austin Klisares and a daughter-in-law Paula Klisares.
He is survived by his wife, Marianne, one brother, Pete (and Bev) of Columbus, OH; four sons, Steven of Dunlap, Illinois, David (and Kathy) of San Juan Capistrano, California, Tim (and Michelle) of Aurora, Illinois, and Graham (and Chris) of Pinetop, Arizona. He is also survived by one daughter, Kathryn Spitznagle (and Scott) of Edwards, Illinois. Don also had fourteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Don joined Caterpillar just after he graduated from the University of Iowa and worked there for thirty six years, retiring in 1992. He worked at Mossville, East Peoria, Decatur, York, and had several assignments in General Offices. Most of his time was spent in the area of employee relations but he also was a superintendent in materials department for four years and retired as a Division Manager from Corporate Information Services.
Don was training manager at the Decatur plant for ten years. He taught as a part time instructor in Bradley University’s evening program for several years in the school of business. He was one of the founding board members which gave birth to Richland Community College in Decatur. He was elected to the Community College Board twice and also served on the Lutheran School Board while in Decatur.
One of Don’s hobbies was genealogy. He and Marianne enjoyed traveling to explore their family history and made several trips to Greece and Ireland in search of his family’s roots.
He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He spent many hours with his brothers, sons, grandchildren and friends in the woods or on the water.
Don was a Christian. He belonged to several different churches. He was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church but worshiped most of his adult life as a Methodist or Lutheran. He has been a member of the First Federated Church of Peoria for the past few years.
He will be cremated and part of his ashes will be buried in the Columbarium at the First Federated Church. The rest of his ashes will be buried with his family at Highland Memorial Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa.
His memorial service will be at the First Federated Church of Peoria at 12:00 p.m. Thursday June 16th. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Federated Church, 3601 N Sheridan Rd, Peoria, IL or “Klisares Family Endowment Fund” at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa.
Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home (Peoria, IL) is honored to service the Klisares family.