Donald Eugene Stanley Henderson

Born in Waukegan to Joseph John Henderson and Florence Johnson Henderson, he married Marilyn Fiedler on February 22, 1952, They moved to Gurnee, and he lived there the rest of his life. They had five sons: Richard, Ronald, Michael, Thomas, and David. In May 2004, several years after Marilyn’s death, he married Judy Hood. They enjoyed more than 20 years together, sharing their children and grandchildren, traveling, and engaging in church activities.

After high school, Don joined his father in the family construction business. Jos. J. Henderson and Son, Inc. was started in 1928 and is still operating as a family business. Don was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 250. Above all else, Don loved building things. In his business, he was a key part of the team that built Abbott Laboratories corporate headquarters and many other buildings at Abbott Park and Abbott North Chicago. He was also the General Contractor for North Shore Trust and Savings, the Gurnee Fire Station #1, Greenleaf Center, Gurnee Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target, and many other landmark structures around Gurnee, Libertyville, Waukegan and beyond. He built professional connections, serving as President of the Lake County Contractors’ Association, acting as a Trustee of the Laborers’ Union Training and Education Fund, and serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Laborers’ Training and Education Fund. He was a founding Board Member of CISCO (the Construction Industry Service Corporation), our area’s largest Labor and Management Organization.

He served on the Boards of Directors of First Federal Savings and Loan and Bethel Lutheran Church. His community contributions were recognized when he was chosen as the Gurnee Days Honoree, “Mr. Gurnee”, in 2016. He demonstrated his dedication to building opportunity for everyone with his charitable work and contributions, including to the fire department, the police department, COOL Ministries, Words on Wheels, Love INC, his churches, and many other organizations. He established scholarships in honor of his late wife Marilyn at the College of Lake County and Rush University Medical Center.

Most of all, Don built a loving family and provided many generations with a stable foundation. He is survived by his wife Judy Henderson, his sons Rick (Bobbi), Mike (Nicki), Tom (Mary Ellen), and Dave (Jaqueline) Henderson, his brother John Henderson (Donna Henderson), sister Mary Henderson Palmer, fifteen grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, stepchildren, nieces, and nephews, and many, many friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 24, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Village Church of Gurnee, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 1:00 pm. The church is located at 1319 N. Hunt Club Road in Gurnee. Burial will be a private family gathering.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or one of the many charities that he supported.