Don Everette Henderson

Don Everette Henderson, age 86, passed away at Serenity Hospice in Oregon, IL on August 22,

2023, after a long battle with cancer. Don was born February 15, 1937, in Rockford, IL the son

of Everette Raymond and Lovita Pauline (Sisk) Henderson. He grew up in Mt. Morris, IL and

graduated from the former Mt. Morris High School in 1955.

While in high school he played football, basketball and ran track. Don held a 2:05.9 school

record for the 880/half mile for 12 years. He also was a pretty good ice and roller skater. After

high school graduation he continued his education at Cornell College on a track scholarship,

was a member of the Alpha Chi Epsilon fraternity and graduated in 1959 with a degree in

Economics and Business Administration and Sociology. While at Cornell he met Jean Cox who

he married in 1961. The two of them had three children, Eric of Golden, CO, Rob (Jana) of

Grand Junction, CO and Darcee Henderson of Lake Wood, CO. Don also has two grandson’s,

Harper and Bryson Skulavik of Lake Wood, CO.

Don landed his first job at State Auto Insurance in Greenwood, Indiana and later returned to

Mt. Morris with his family in 1965 and worked as a salesman for Kable Printing Company. He

also partnered with his Dad at Henderson Real Estate. After Kable’s went on strike in 1974, Don

and his family moved to Waseca, MN where he was Vice President of Brown Printing until his

retirement in 2000. He and family enjoyed many years living on Clear Lake fishing and boating.

Don moved back to Mt. Morris for a short period of time, met Judy Ciaccio and eventually

moved to Rockford where the two of them resided until Don’s health declined.

Don was preceded in death by his father and mother and is survived by his three children, two

grandchildren, Judy Ciaccio who shared life with him for the past 23 years and brother Gary

(Melody) of Byron, IL.

Visitation will be held on September 30, 2023, at Finch Funeral Home in Mt. Morris from 10:00

until 11:30 a.m. and a Celebration of Life following with Don’s brother, Gary, speaking. A

luncheon will follow at the Brethren Church in Mt. Morris.  Burial was held in Willwood

Burial Park in Rockford, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charities that Don contributed to: Wounded

Warriors Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Red Cross or Serenity Hospice in

Oregon, IL