Donald B. "Don" Abbs

Donald B. Abbs, age 81, of Elgin, passed away Friday, April 6, 2018 at Highland Oaks in Elgin. Don was born April 12, 1936 to Buford V. Abbs and Elizabeth Main Donaldson Abbs in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Don graduated from Fond du Lac Senior High School in 1955 and then from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. He then taught math and chemistry at Brandon High School in Brandon, Wisconsin from 1959 to 1962 and from 1963 to 1965. He was named Teacher of the Year for Brandon within his first two years of teaching. He also taught math and science at Sabish Junior High School in Fond du Lac for the 1962-1963 school year.

Don then attended Purdue University; West Lafayette, Indiana for the 1965-1966 school year where he earned a Master of Science degree in Education – Guidance and Counseling. While at Purdue Don met his wife, Alice Svabek of Geneva, Illinois, and they were married on the Purdue campus on June 11, 1966.

Don then worked as a Guidance Counselor at Larkin High School in Elgin from 1966 to 1991 and was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Following his retirement, Don worked as a math tutor at Elgin Community College from 1991 to 2003. Since then, he had been a frequent contributor to Letters to the Editor. His hobbies included writing, painting, woodworking, photography, fixing up a Model A Ford, and cars in general. A lively conversationalist, Don enjoyed debating about a variety of topics.

Survivors include his loving wife of 51 years Alice; sons, Donald P. (Kimberly) and their children, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Margaret and Thomas of LaGrange, Michael J. (Deborah) and their children, Brandon and Luke of Batavia, and Steven B. (Carrie) and their children, Meredith and Theodore of Saint Charles; sisters Betty Balthazor and Audrey (Donald, deceased) Zoellner, and nieces Debbie (Jim) Pelky and Tammy (Gary) Steier, all of Wisconsin.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State St. (Rt. 38), Geneva.  There will be a visitation at St. Thomas More Church, 215 Thomas More Drive, Elgin on Thursday, April 12, 2018 beginning at 9:30 am, with the Funeral Mass following at 10:30 am, celebrated by Father Richard Rosinski. Burial will be private and will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Geneva.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the staff of Highland Oaks for their care and comfort during the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1801 Meyers Road #100, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181 or to St. Thomas More Church, 215 Thomas More Drive, Elgin, Illinois 60123.

For information 630-232-8233 or www.malonefh.com.

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