Donald James Huling
Born: February 15, 1924
Died: June 14, 2025 in Oxford, FL
Born: February 15, 1924
Died: June 14, 2025 in Oxford, FL
Don passed away at the age of 101 in Trinity Springs Assisted Living in The Villages, FL after living most of his life In the LaSalle-Peru, IL area. He was the oldest son born into a music loving family: parents Agnes (Hawthorn) Huling and Thurman Huling, siblings Alice Haugen, John and Paul Huling. He married his high school sweetheart, Glenellen (Lindy) Marshall before heading out to WWII in 1943 as a Corporal in the Army Air Corps in WWII. They were married 69 years.
Don attended U of I on the GI bill and used his mechanical engineering degree in his long tenure at Carus Company of LaSalle. The Hulings and Marshalls were active members of the Congregational, UCC of LaSalle. In their later years, Don and Lindy attended the Oglesby Union Church and the United Methodist Church in Peru. His last 6 years living in Florida, he attended the Live Oaks Community Church with Donalyn and Dave Bratton where many people enjoyed greeting and visiting with him.
Don and Lindy played in the LPHS orchestra and kept making music with family and friends. When his 3 kids performed in concerts and musicals under Mr. Manahan, he snuck back stage to video dress rehearsals and volunteered to chaperone a few NYC Broadway HS trips. (not many!) Don lived what he called “a very good life”. He enjoyed playing with his kids, neighborhood kids and grandkids after work, leading the boy scouts Troop 2 of LaSalle (he was an Eagle Scout), building models to scale, designing new items for his G&D Rotary business including his grandkids in the work for Rotary conventions. Don jumped in to help his oldest, Donalyn(Bratton), organize an American Field Service team to bring exchange students to LP, bailed out his youngest, Vickye (Payton) in organizing a St. Jude “Give a Dollar” door to door fundraiser, and maybe stacked the votes by printing out “Vote for the Rising Tides” for his son Jamie Huling’s Battle of the Bands event. He continued playing his violin into his 90s, playing many years in the Illinois Valley Symphony, and singing harmony until the end of his days.
He is already missed by his 3 kids, 6 grandkids and 4 great grandkids.
If you knew him, sing a song or donate to your favorite charity in his memory.
A celebration of Life service will be held in the theater at Trinity Springs sometime in July, planned to be taped and put on YouTube for all to watch.