Leo "Lee" J. Dondanville, Jr.

Lee was born on June 25, 1930, in Ottawa, Illinois, the son of Leo J. Dondanville and Lillian (Sullivan) Dondanville. He married Ann Louise Mosey, “the Norwegian” and the love of his life, on June 7, 1952, in Somonauk, Illinois. Lee was a proud 1952 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and earned a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1954 from the University of Illinois. He honorably served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1956 based in Anchorage, Alaska where he helped build the U.S. defense capability on the Aleutian Islands before Alaska was a state.

Lee began his engineering career in 1956 in Springfield with Walt Hanson and retired as Chairman and CEO of Hanson Engineers Incorporated in 1995. Lee’s experience with Hanson included bridge and building structural design, as well as soil mechanics and foundation engineering. He supervised more than 8,000 engineering sites and investigations for clients of the firm in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Lee worked on more than 100 dam and reservoir projects, including four dams in the 150-foot to 250-foot range in the Dominican Republic. Locally, Lee ‘s expertise was critical to restoring the below-grade portions of the Illinois Old State Capitol with the project receiving a national engineering award. He also worked on the lime stabilized fill for support of the Duck Creek, Illinois Power Plant that won state and national engineering awards, the Ruck-A-Chucky bridge project in Auburn, California, a cable hung arc bridge project that received a national award from Progressive Architecture, and hundreds of other projects varying in location from Springfield to Saudi Arabia.

Lee was actively involved in many engineering associations and was the recipient of many awards including the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Engineer of the Year Award and Illinois Award; the University of Notre Dame College of Engineering Honor Award; the University of Illinois Civil Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award; and the Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois Presidents Award and Distinguished Service Award.

Throughout his career and after retirement, Lee was a member of many Boards of Directors and served as a trusted advisor for many organizations including First National Bank of Springfield, FirstBank of Illinois, St. John’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Home, the Hospital Sisters Health System, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Christ the King and Little Flower Catholic Churches, the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association and the Notre Dame Club of Central Illinois. He was a three-time winner of the Notre Dame Club of Central Illinois Award of the Year for his demonstration of faith in action. Lee enjoyed gardening and traveling with Ann. He was a loving husband and father, a fun-loving grandfather and great-grandfather, a loyal friend and a respected colleague and mentor.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Edward, who died during childhood; his sister, Grace M. Kennedy of Orange, California; and two of his beloved sons, John Dondanville of Clarkston, Michigan in 2016 and Dan Dondanville of Springfield in 2020.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Ann (Mosey) Dondanville of Springfield; his daughters, Mary (Dr. Tom) Rooney of Ottawa, IL and Patty (Jim) Berman of Wilmette, IL; his son, Joe (Kelly) Dondanville of Wilmette, IL; and daughters-in-law, Janet (Frank) Dondanville of Lake St. Louis, MO and Anne (Hesslau) Dondanville of Springfield. Lee and Ann have been blessed with 16 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and acquaintances who were always treated as family.

Visitation: Family will receive condolences from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S 6th St, Springfield, IL. Visitation will begin with a prayer service. Illinois COVID-19 guidance will be followed, requiring face coverings.

Funeral Mass: 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at Christ the King Catholic Church with Father Chris House officiating and Father Joe Dondanville of Lincoln, IL concelebrating. Illinois COVID-19 guidance will be followed, requiring face coverings. The Mass will be recorded for later viewing for those who prefer or are advised not to travel during the continuing COVID-19 risks.

The Funeral Mass will be recorded. Family and guests may view the recording after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2021 by clicking HERE

A private family burial will take place immediately following the Funeral Mass at Calvary Cemetery with military honors by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense.

Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, 1930 Barberry Dr., Springfield, IL 62704, or to Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, 1200 W. Washington, Springfield, IL 62702.