Don was born in Peoria to Jerome and Elsie (Nirdlinger) Ullman.Don graduated in 1957 from Peoria Central High School and has attended class reunions there for the past 55 years.A brief sojourn from Peoria led him to Colorado College where he met his future wife, Marilyn, from Dallas, Texas.After college he served from 1962-1964 as a 1st LT.in the US Army in Germany.After returning from Germany Don and Marilyn were married in Dallas in 1968. She survives along with two children, Justin (Diane) Ullman of Glen Ellyn, and Suzanne (Joe) Griffin of Oak Park, IL; five grandchildren, Harper, Jude and Presley Ullman, and Jackson and Colleen Griffin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Dick Ullman.
His close friends, of which there are many, will remember Don as a generous, selfless man with a wonderful sense of humor. If you heard someone rummaging through your refrigerator before saying hello, it was most likely Don. If you had beef tongue in there, there was little chance it would make it through Don’s visit.
His son’s friends will eternally remember Don as the father who unabashedly drank milk from the carton in the middle of the night. His daughter’s friends will remember him as a man who loved Suzanne with all his being.
Don was dedicated and passionate in all that he did.Don spent 40 plus years at Federal Warehouse where he, his father and his brother, Richard, built a company and culture of loyalty and respect. If you asked Federal employees, they would tell you that Don was tough but fair and that he treated everyone like family.He had a great love for what he did and all the people at Federal.
As much hard work and passion that he put into his company, he did so equally with a number of charities and boards that he served on. Among them were Peoria Economic Development Council, Youth Farm, Bradley University, Red Cross, Upgrade, B’nai B’rith Covenant Home, YMCA, Channel47 WTVP, Eureka College, Forest Park Foundation, Peoria Public Library, Crittenton Centers, Anshai Emeth Congregation, Institute of Physical Medicine Foundation, Illinois Movers Association and Allied Van Lines.His friends have said that he was a humble, understated, quiet hero and that his generosity knew no bounds.Beyond his outward charity, there were many examples of quiet charity.Many things he did for people that only Don knew about.
If you were to ask Don what his greatest accomplishments were, he would tell you unequivocally his family. He and Marilyn were married for 45 wonderful years.And you only have to look at Don’s children to see how he has instilled humor, humility, and integrity of which he built his own life around.
A special thanks to all friends and family who brought so much light to Don’s life when blindness left him in total darkness. And an extra special thanks to all of the nurses over the years who gave Don care and most importantly friendship.
Funeral services will be held Friday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Anshai Emeth Congregation in Peoria, IL.Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria, IL, is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Springdale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Congregation Anshai Emeth, 5624 N. University, Peoria, IL, 61614; Crittenton Center, 442 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Ave., Peoria, IL, 61605; University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC1140, Chicago, IL, 60637; IPMR, 6501 N. Sheridan Rd., Peoria, IL, 61614.
Please view Don’s obituary online at www.Davison-FultonWoolsey-Wilton.com
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5