Thomas "Fred" O'Donnell, age 87, a resident of Wheaton and formerly a longtime resident of Gurnee, IL, died on Thursday, December 26, 2019, at Travance Living at Wheaton in Wheaton, Illinois. He was born January 4, 1932 in Rockford, IL to Thomas Henry and Agnes Leake O'Donnell.
Fred grew up in Rockford, IL until high school. He graduated from Northbrook School in Northbrook, IL where he met Barbara "Bobbie" Roueche. They married while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. He went on to serve in the Navy for 22 years. He served at sea on the USS Laws (destroyer), the USS Investigator (radar picket ship), the USS Kearsarge (aircraft carrier), and the USS Providence (light cruiser) as a radar and electronics technician. While at the Great Lakes Naval Base, he taught electronics. After retiring from the Navy he continued to teach electronics for the College of Lake County.
He enjoyed listening to classical music, playing the piano and clarinet, and writing music. He was active at his church where he sang in the choir. For many years he served as a leader for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was also an active founding member of the Kirk Players Community Theater in Mundelein, IL. He volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels, helped drive cancer patients to treatments, and taught driving to seniors in the 55 Alive Program. Being a cancer survivor, he was involved with the Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bobbie, his children, Chris (Vince) Greco of Carol Stream, IL, Neil (Ann) O'Donnell of Traverse City, MI, Maggie (Matt) Froncek of Mesa, AZ and Mark O'Donnell of Welcome, NC, daughter-in-law, Tammy O'Donnell of Pleasant Prairie, WI, seven grandchildren, Brad, Dan, Matt, Tabitha, Jessica, Katie, and Erin, and four great-grandchildren, Arielle, Aonika, Savannah, and KJ. He was preceded in death by his son, Kelly, his sister, Ginny Austin, and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Greco.
A memorial service for Fred and Bobbie will be held on July 25th, 2020, at 4:30pm at Gurnee Community Church. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the attendance at the church service will be limited to family. Others may view the service on live stream (4:30 on July 25th) through Facebook.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Freedom Service Dogs of America, 7193 S Dillon Ct, Englewood, CO 80112. Freedom Service Dogs of America unleashes the potential of shelter dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need, including injured service members and veterans. Memorial gifts may also be given to Fisher House Foundation, 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy., Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852. Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay free of charge while their loved ones are in the hospital.
Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.
Fred grew up in Rockford, IL until high school. He graduated from Northbrook School in Northbrook, IL where he met Barbara "Bobbie" Roueche. They married while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. He went on to serve in the Navy for 22 years. He served at sea on the USS Laws (destroyer), the USS Investigator (radar picket ship), the USS Kearsarge (aircraft carrier), and the USS Providence (light cruiser) as a radar and electronics technician. While at the Great Lakes Naval Base, he taught electronics. After retiring from the Navy he continued to teach electronics for the College of Lake County.
He enjoyed listening to classical music, playing the piano and clarinet, and writing music. He was active at his church where he sang in the choir. For many years he served as a leader for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was also an active founding member of the Kirk Players Community Theater in Mundelein, IL. He volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels, helped drive cancer patients to treatments, and taught driving to seniors in the 55 Alive Program. Being a cancer survivor, he was involved with the Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bobbie, his children, Chris (Vince) Greco of Carol Stream, IL, Neil (Ann) O'Donnell of Traverse City, MI, Maggie (Matt) Froncek of Mesa, AZ and Mark O'Donnell of Welcome, NC, daughter-in-law, Tammy O'Donnell of Pleasant Prairie, WI, seven grandchildren, Brad, Dan, Matt, Tabitha, Jessica, Katie, and Erin, and four great-grandchildren, Arielle, Aonika, Savannah, and KJ. He was preceded in death by his son, Kelly, his sister, Ginny Austin, and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Greco.
A memorial service for Fred and Bobbie will be held on July 25th, 2020, at 4:30pm at Gurnee Community Church. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the attendance at the church service will be limited to family. Others may view the service on live stream (4:30 on July 25th) through Facebook.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Freedom Service Dogs of America, 7193 S Dillon Ct, Englewood, CO 80112. Freedom Service Dogs of America unleashes the potential of shelter dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need, including injured service members and veterans. Memorial gifts may also be given to Fisher House Foundation, 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy., Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852. Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay free of charge while their loved ones are in the hospital.
Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.
Thomas "Fred" O'Donnell, age 87, a resident of Wheaton and formerly a longtime resident of Gurnee, IL, died on Thursday, December 26, 2019, at Travance Living at Wheaton in Wheaton, Illinois. He was born January 4, 1932 in Rockford, IL to Thomas Henry and Agnes Leake O'Donnell.
Fred grew up in Rockford, IL until high school. He graduated from Northbrook School in Northbrook, IL where he met Barbara "Bobbie" Roueche. They married while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. He went on to serve in the Navy for 22 years. He served at sea on the USS Laws (destroyer), the USS Investigator (radar picket ship), the USS Kearsarge (aircraft carrier), and the USS Providence (light cruiser) as a radar and electronics technician. While at the Great Lakes Naval Base, he taught electronics. After retiring from the Navy he continued to teach electronics for the College of Lake County.
He enjoyed listening to classical music, playing the piano and clarinet, and writing music. He was active at his church where he sang in the choir. For many years he served as a leader for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was also an active founding member of the Kirk Players Community Theater in Mundelein, IL. He volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels, helped drive cancer patients to treatments, and taught driving to seniors in the 55 Alive Program. Being a cancer survivor, he was involved with the Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bobbie, his children, Chris (Vince) Greco of Carol Stream, IL, Neil (Ann) O'Donnell of Traverse City, MI, Maggie (Matt) Froncek of Mesa, AZ and Mark O'Donnell of Welcome, NC, daughter-in-law, Tammy O'Donnell of Pleasant Prairie, WI, seven grandchildren, Brad, Dan, Matt, Tabitha, Jessica, Katie, and Erin, and four great-grandchildren, Arielle, Aonika, Savannah, and KJ. He was preceded in death by his son, Kelly, his sister, Ginny Austin, and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Greco.
A memorial service for Fred and Bobbie will be held on July 25th, 2020, at 4:30pm at Gurnee Community Church. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the attendance at the church service will be limited to family. Others may view the service on live stream (4:30 on July 25th) through Facebook.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Freedom Service Dogs of America, 7193 S Dillon Ct, Englewood, CO 80112. Freedom Service Dogs of America unleashes the potential of shelter dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need, including injured service members and veterans. Memorial gifts may also be given to Fisher House Foundation, 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy., Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852. Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay free of charge while their loved ones are in the hospital.
Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.
Fred grew up in Rockford, IL until high school. He graduated from Northbrook School in Northbrook, IL where he met Barbara "Bobbie" Roueche. They married while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. He went on to serve in the Navy for 22 years. He served at sea on the USS Laws (destroyer), the USS Investigator (radar picket ship), the USS Kearsarge (aircraft carrier), and the USS Providence (light cruiser) as a radar and electronics technician. While at the Great Lakes Naval Base, he taught electronics. After retiring from the Navy he continued to teach electronics for the College of Lake County.
He enjoyed listening to classical music, playing the piano and clarinet, and writing music. He was active at his church where he sang in the choir. For many years he served as a leader for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was also an active founding member of the Kirk Players Community Theater in Mundelein, IL. He volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels, helped drive cancer patients to treatments, and taught driving to seniors in the 55 Alive Program. Being a cancer survivor, he was involved with the Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bobbie, his children, Chris (Vince) Greco of Carol Stream, IL, Neil (Ann) O'Donnell of Traverse City, MI, Maggie (Matt) Froncek of Mesa, AZ and Mark O'Donnell of Welcome, NC, daughter-in-law, Tammy O'Donnell of Pleasant Prairie, WI, seven grandchildren, Brad, Dan, Matt, Tabitha, Jessica, Katie, and Erin, and four great-grandchildren, Arielle, Aonika, Savannah, and KJ. He was preceded in death by his son, Kelly, his sister, Ginny Austin, and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Greco.
A memorial service for Fred and Bobbie will be held on July 25th, 2020, at 4:30pm at Gurnee Community Church. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the attendance at the church service will be limited to family. Others may view the service on live stream (4:30 on July 25th) through Facebook.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Freedom Service Dogs of America, 7193 S Dillon Ct, Englewood, CO 80112. Freedom Service Dogs of America unleashes the potential of shelter dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need, including injured service members and veterans. Memorial gifts may also be given to Fisher House Foundation, 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy., Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852. Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay free of charge while their loved ones are in the hospital.
Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.
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