Donald Gene Ballard

Don retired from Continental Can, in St. Louis, after 42 years. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Fairview Heights and was an active Deacon at Washington Park Baptist for many years. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed the time spent with his sons, in search of the big buck. He enjoyed gardening and being an egg man. He was a precious husband and a great father, to five blessing from God. He was also the best Pa Pa ever. He will truly be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Leona, nee Knepper, Ballard; and his brothers and sisters-in-law, Erma (Charles) Bruno, Florence Poole, Charles ( Marguerite) Bryan, Rudy, Steffan, Oscar Wolf, and Nancy Bryan.

Surviving are his loving wife of 63 years, Josephine A. Ballard, nee Bryan; his five wonderful children, Donna Ballard-Dohack, of St. Louis, Mo., Donald G. (Patty) Ballard, Jr., of Troy, Illinois, Ronald (Barb) Ballard, of St. Louis, Mo., Terry (Betty) Ballard, of Troy, Illinois, and Mark (Michelle) Ballard, of O’Fallon, Ill.; his grandchildren, Krystina (Roger), Kyle, Danny, Lacie, Donny (Maria) Ronnie, Matthew, Scott, Joshua, Courtney, and Parker; his great grandchildren, Abby, Adam, and Carson; two brothers, William Ballard, Jr. and Richard (Sue) Ballard; a sister, Shirley Snyder; his brothers and sisters-in-laws, Mary Ellen Woodward, Grace Wolf, Evelyn Steffan, Claude Bryan, Jr., Carol (John) Stahlman, Arron (Ruby) Bryan, Marlene “Susie” (Julius) Magyar, Victor (Norma) Bryan, Eddie Poole, and Barbara Bryan; and his special church family at First Baptist Church of Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Memorials are appreciated to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital or to the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society. Condolences may also be expressed online at www.lakeviewfuneralhm.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at First Baptist Church of Fairview Heights, 10401 Lincoln Trl., Fairview Heights, Illinois and at 10 to 11a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2015 at the church.

Funeral: Services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2015 at the church with the Rev. Dr. Jim Kerr officiating. Interment will follow in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Illinois.