Donald “Don” C. Kendeigh

Donald C. “Don” Kendeigh, 81, passed away Sunday, March 14, 2021 due to complications from a heart procedure. He was surrounded by his beloved family.

Don was born on August 18, 1939 in Amherst, Ohio, the son of Dr. Samuel Charles and Dorothy Sutton Kendeigh. He attended Champaign High School in Champaign, Illinois, where he became an Eagle Scout, worked at the original Dog n Suds, and played the string bass in the school orchestra and professionally. He graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and was part of the Army R.O.T.C program. He was active in his fraternity, Delta Upsilon, where he was the chapter treasurer.

Don met his wife, Mary Evelyn “Lyn” Kendeigh, when they volunteered together in college. Don and Lyn were united in marriage on August 11, 1962 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in East St. Louis. They were married 58 years, until her passing in January of this year. Don was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and commissioned officer in the Army Reserve. Don was a Certified Public Accountant and a finance executive at several national insurance companies. His career took the family from Arlington Heights, to Westfield, NJ, Boston, MA, and finally back home to Illinois in Fox River Grove. He was heavily involved in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He volunteered his time and talents on several local nonprofits and the Economic Development Commission for the Village of Fox River Grove.

Upon retirement, Don discovered his true calling in life…being a grandfather. He was known by his 12 grandchildren as “Gahger,” a name bestowed upon him by his firstborn grandchild.

He instilled a love of sports into his family from early on. He taught them to enjoy the joys and agonies of cheering on the Cubs, Bears and the Fighting Illini. He was honored in October 1994 as King Dad at the University of Illinois and wore the crown at the football half-time presentation with great pride. He was equally enthusiastic about cheering for his children and grandchildren in all of their activities.

His competitive nature brought a lot of fun and rivalry to family gatherings. The annual Thanksgiving Kendeigh Bowl family football game caused plenty of pre-meal excitement and even a few injuries. There were also family checkers tournaments, bingo games, golf outings, and bowl pools…each with a prize to be claimed by the victor.

Gahger’s zest for life is unmatched. Every newborn grandchild was the cutest baby he had ever seen. Every good meal was the best he’d ever had. And everyone who knew him loved him, especially his one-liners.

Don is survived by his children: John (Jena) Kendeigh, Paul (Tracy) Kendeigh, Andy (Wendy) Kendeigh, Kathryn (Keith) Beyer, Anne (Brian) Schmitt; his grandchildren: Stephen (Heidi) Kendeigh, Sarah Kendeigh, Charles Kendeigh, Katie (Mitch) Vetter, Becca Kendeigh, Thomas Beyer, Sean Beyer, Carolyn Kendeigh, Samantha Kendeigh, Paisley Schmitt, Emory Kendeigh, Payton Schmitt; and his sister Katie (Sidney) Little.

He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent as a memorial in Don’s name to The Odum-Kendeigh Scholarship Fund in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior at the College of Arts and Science at the University of Illinois at https://sib.illinois.edu/eeb/giving . Please specify the Odum-Kendeigh Fund or The Cary-Grove High School Booster Club, 2208 Three Oaks Road, Cary, IL  60013.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 18, 2021 with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m until the service at 11 a.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Homes,149 West Main St. in Barrington, Illinois. The burial with military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, 610 Dundee Ave., Barrington.