Donald Dwight Atherton

Donald Dwight Atherton had trucking in his blood from an early age. At the age 72, Don passed away Friday, May 1, 2020 at home with family by his side. A private family funeral service will be held. You may watch from your home on Facebook Live 2:00 pm Friday, May 8, 2020, or any time after, by going to the funeral home Facebook page and joining Don’s group ahead of time. A memorial fund has been established.

Donald was born June 29, 1947, Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Dwight and Lois (Linder) Atherton. He grew up the son of a truck driver. From a young age, Don knew he was going to grow up to be a truck driver. He loved riding along and helping his father, as he learned about hard-work and honesty. When Don was ten years old, he and his father were involved in a serious tractor-trailer accident, in which another truck jack-knived in front them. Don barely survived and took a whole year to recover, but it didn’t dampen his dream of trucking for himself.

Don attended Thomson High School, graduating with the Class of 1966. On June 15, 1968, Don married Belinda Hatfield. Together they raised three children and celebrated 51 years of marriage. He drove truck for ADM for 22 years, until his retirement in 2013. Don was a member of the Community United Church of Christ, and was a past volunteer for the Savanna Ambulance Association. He enjoyed fishing on the Mississippi, with his favorite spot being a railroad bridge off of Doty Road.

Don will be dearly missed by his wife, Belinda; three children, Diana (Jesse Warfield) Kradle, Keith Atherton, and Blake Atherton, all of Savanna, Illinois; 10 grandchildren, Kass, Brandon, Brysan, Kevin, Phillip, Tara, Jackson, Brilee, Zoey and Kylea all of Savanna; one sister, Barbara (Eldon) Bardell of Chadwick; a brother, Charles (Denise Curtis) Atherton of Savanna; several nieces and nephews; and Deandrea Jones, who was like a son to him.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Dwight and Lois; grandparents, Leo and Pearl Linder, and Archie and Dolly Atherton; his mother and father-in-law, Norman and Stella Hatfield; a son-in-law, Richard Kradle; and three nieces, Tamara Gilmore, Katie Craig and Shannon Hatfield..