My brother, my protector, my hero, my cowboy, my John Wayne and Barney Fife rolled into one.. 
              Love you, Baby Sis

Don= Dad=Grandpa Don 
 Our memories are many, Our respect runs deep..and our love is never ending. You will be greatly missed.. and forever in our hearts..💖💖💖
                Love, Dennis, AJ,& Tyler

Went to school and graduated with Don and had fun times with Don in the 1970's . Bought a 1969 Corvette from him when he had his 1972 Corvette . Don had fun parties at his home on Minnesota Dr. and we had good times at the Horseshoe Tap . Very sorry for his passing . Rest in peace Don .

A day in my life.. Today will be my last post of a day in my life because yesterday I layed to rest my brother Don who had been my life.. I stayed in the chapel as they took him to his final resting place and the chapel was near empty as they rolled my brother past me, I let my fingers gently slide down his casket and told him Goodbye, I love you, as my tears fell on his casket.. To everyone who came to pay their respects here and in NC I thank you.. to all the words of love, thoughts and prayers, I thank you..To all who has read and shared this journey with me I thank you.. To my brother,friend,and the Legand, I thank you and the Lord for the time we had together!! 💔😭

Uncle Don the memories that myself, Ryan, Dustin, Dylan and Demi have with you are something that we will cherish forever! We will always remember how much you lit up when the kids came over to see you. You were just as excited as they were! You’re love for them was undeniable. 
You were there for so many milestones in the kids lives. You were there to help Dylan and Demi learn how to walk! You and Dylan loved to watch westerns all day long! You loved going to Dustin’s basketball games! It’s the little things like this that will be with us forever!
We are all so lucky to have gotten the time with you that we had! You are in our hearts forever Uncle Don! 
With so much love, 
The Potts family ❤️

I will miss you my friend, you were always there to help anyone that needed a hand. I will cherish the times we fished together and the years we bowled together. I remember the times I'd mention that I needed firewood and in a couple of days there would be a load of wood cut, and stacked next to my garage. You never wanted anything from anyone, you were a giver never a taker. 
My condolences to the family of a good friend. Donnie you will forever be remembered. 
I know your in heaven helping out wherever needed. 
May God bless your soul.
Rick

Lil Dylan sharing an early morning conversation with his great uncle Don..  Don loved all them babies so very much..💞💞

Donna & family, I'm so sorry to hear about Don. He was a dear, sweet man. He always had a smile when I came to visit. We would talk about the western he was watching. He love them. I will miss him terribly,  but I know he is having a ball now, without pain. Donna, you and the family are in my prayers and may God give you peace and strength for the coming days, with love❤, Susan 

Going give a shout out to my man uncle Don I love ya more then words can say I respected you as friend as a brother as a uncle you always had my respect I remember growing up as kids you made sure for many year we got Christmas you was always there for my mom you may have lived a million miles away but you always call on my birthday you just was there but yesterday you left us and I truly know your happy being with your mom dad and Denny and all the other love ones you have all I can say is you will be missed and I promise I'll take care and be here for mom rip my man I will keep carring on your legend love you always uncle Don aka the (Legend)

Donna and family, I'm sorry to hear about the passing of your brother Don. I know he suffered from alzheimers for a long time. Corresponding with Donna through Emails kept me informed about his declining health. I cant remember when I saw him last since I was very young when he left Rockford. I just remember coming over to your house and seeing  all your family. I lost my cell phone recently so I no longer have Donna's Email address or phone number. Donna when you read this can you contact me at my new Email address ?  deschainesusan320@gmail.com or text 815-505-4539   my condolences to you and your family. I will see you at Don's service Saturday at Sunset memorial gardens. 

Uncle Don is all I’ve ever known him by.... and it fits him  well! He had a smile that was contagious and a love for his family that was unending mainly when it came to his nieces and nephews... such a sweet soul.... although I only met him a couple years ago he left a lasting love impression on me...

Don=Dad
I was 5 years old when Mom brought you home to meet me

You bought me my first bike and taught me how to ride it

You taught me how to save my pennies
and how to make it count when I spent them

Our Christmas shopping excursions at CherryVale Mall was one of my favorite yearly events - just us - guys day out

Christmas morning at your house with Mom and you are the best memories of my entire childhood

You taught me never to cheat. 

You taught me never to lie, it’s always worse when you lie. 

You taught me how to play catch with a baseball, even though you did it with the wrong hand 🙂

You taught me how to fix electrical problems.

You taught me how to blame a good fart on Moms home cooking. You taught me this one so well that Mom wrapped up corks for us as Christmas gifts and wrote on them “Insert after home cooked meal”. 🙂

You taught me never to smell ice cream when someone tells you it smells good - you shoved it up my nose. 🙂

You taught me how to swim and dive off the diving board. 

And now you have taught us all how to go peacefully into the night - rest well Dad. I love you.

Don and I were meter readers together and became great friends throughout our thirty some years working together.
I have so many great memories with Don, bowling on the same team in the ComEd league, and spending a lot of time at Don's house in Rockford. Great memories. God Bless, rest easy my friend.

Don-  I know I don’t have to say this but you were my side kick as well as my twin. We talked a lot and laughed a lot together. I didn’t even care that you would tell me the same stories over and over again. A lot of people didn’t understand us when we were together but we would say that’s ok cause we understood each other and that’s all that mattered. I will always remember the laughter we brought to one another and the fun we had together no matter where we were at. One of our sayings to one another was I will always have your back. Thank you Cuz for all the great stories and memories we shared I will never forget them but most of all you will be in my heart forever and ever. I know your happy, with family and friends who you haven’t seen in sometime. I can here you now telling someone your stories and laughing with a Pepsi or beer in your hand. I have always thought of you as a brother and you were one of Uncle Jack’s boys. I love and miss you with all my heart and soul. Keep telling your stories and laughing I’ll see you again. God got another angel to watch over Donna and I. Till we meet again. All my Love Gloria J Church Heebsh

Uncle Don, you lived an exciting, full life.  You worked hard, played hard and loved your family and friends fully.  There are so many amazing memories over the years.  I know that you are now with family and friends in heaven.  It gives us all comfort that you are at peace.  You lived your best life here and now you will  for eternity.  May the beer be chilled in your favorite koozie, may the golf cart races be plenty, and may the laughter and jokes continue forever.  We love you.

Sam, Jeff, Izzy, your Brother, Doug and your sis, Phyllis.


Don, I am beyond grateful to have met you! I wish we could have had more time together but I loved every minute I had with you. You would play with my hair and tell me I was pretty every single time you saw me.. I always knew you were a charmer! Thank you for allowing me to help you, and welcoming me into your home and your family. The last time I saw you, you held me and told me to have a good day at school and I promise I will  always try my best!  I will miss teasing you about being a ladies man, reading to you, making your favorite cheesy eggs, and you laughing at us crazy ladies that were always trying to put a smile on your face. You have touched my heart “Uncle Don” and I could never thank you enough for the memories. 

Rest In Peace, you incredible man 


Uncle Don, 
Within the last few years you have become such a huge part of my life and I am so grateful for that. I know we didn’t get to spend much time together before you moved to North Carolina, but with all of the wonderful stories you told us, I think we all felt like we were there with you all throughout your life!! 
I will never forget how much you loved our family beach trips because you knew we would all be together, but of course you were especially excited to get to spend the entire trip with all the kids! The bond you had with all of them was definitely special! 
I will always remember and cherish the good times we had with you and I will never forget how your smile and amazing personality lit up a room when you walked in!! You were such an amazing person! We are all going to miss you so much. I love you Uncle Don!❤️

I’m so blessed to have met Don. His smile was infectious and he sure did enjoy a good car ride💛 
I loved seeing him play with “his” babies💛💛 I’m not sure who’s face lit up more; his or the children’s. Thank you Don for sharing your love so freely. We are forever changed by knowing you. Until we meet again...💔💛

My 6 year drew me this picture to make me feel better about losing Don.  She wanted to cheer me up. I miss him like crazy! He will never be forgotten. 

Hey Uncle Don it's your favorite niece " you Betcha " he would say lol.  I tickled him all the time and he would tickle me. The Tuesday before he passed away I found his perfect tickle spot he always tried to hide it from me. I think I only found it cause he wanted me to. That was him saying goodbye to me I think. He rubbed my hair my face tried tickling me said he loved me made kissy faces so I'd kiss him. Uncle don would get so mad if mom touched his feet but I could probably chop his foot off and he would say your doing a good job sweetie.  I remember when we went to the beach a wave knocked us down and he lost his glasses I knew it upset him but he tried to make sure I stayed happy so he didn't grumble much so we went back up to the house a few hours later decided to go back to take Addy to the water and we were walking near the water when a wave pushed up something so we chased it low and behold it was his same exact glasses lol. He couldn't get over how we lost them out in the water like a mile ahead and somehow it washed up to our feet. I have so many great memories with him and I gathered sad ones near the end but I'm thankful I got to spend that time with him. Mom said he would light up when he knew I was there or coming. My heart is broken and if he has anything to do with it I'm sure he is trying to find a way to mend it. I love you uncle don now your home. 

A day in my life started when you became my life.. the laughter,  the tears, the sadness and fears. You were my constant.. you were my brother,but became my friend.. it will be hard to figure out my life from these next coming weeks but you were my everything.. I never wanted to leave you.. I could'nt.. and now you are gone..I feel empty.. the house feels empty.. I tried to will you back..I begged you not to leave me.. I wasn't ready my dear brother..I love you .. I would hold your hand 🤝at night while telling you goodnight and say " feel me bro , feel my love.💞 may you rest in peace , love baby sis 💖

Don I miss you so much . Everyone of our siblings moved away n left us 3 musketeers as I started calling us then you moved south n became my run-a-musketeer.  So you n den keep eye on me n dont go picking on me lol love missing you xoxo deedee

Donna and Family,
I am very sorry for your loss. I remember when I first met Don, I was walking my Dad's dog and Don came right out to the street and started talking to me and petting the dog. He told me that he lived there with his sister and she was scared of dogs Sam's size. Over the last few years, Don has looked for me to come home and waived at me from his house. I will miss his laughter and presence in the neighborhood.



OBITUARY

Donald Henry DeGrave

January 1, 1945 – January 15, 2019

Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

Show your support

Send Flowers

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Past Services

Visitation for Donald

Service to Celebrate Donald's Life