Donald J. Ursin

Donald J. Ursin, 84, of Glen Ellyn, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2017 at home, surrounded by his family.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Joyce (nee Krogen), and his four children Steven (Terry) Ursin, Lauren Heffernan, Karin (John) Hunter, and Kristin (Gary) Stenstrom. He is also the proud grandfather of Mike (Laura), Dan (Erin), and Becca Ursin; Kate (John) Pavlik and Nick Heffernan; Mason (fianceé Jenny) Hunter and Paul Hunter, and Ellen and Amanda Stenstrom.  Don was delighted to be great-grandpa to Ben Ursin. 

He is also survived by his sister, Arlene (Vlad) Fajnor and sister-in-law, Kay Krogen, as well as nephews Scott (Nora), Joel (Patricia), Paul (Wendy), David (Ana), and Craig (Debbie) Fajnor of California.

Don was born in Chicago to Joseph and Anna (nee Huska) Ursin on August 8, 1933, and he attended Austin High School. He earned a NROTC scholarship  to the University of Wisconsin, where he was a member of the football team, which played in the 1953 Rose Bowl game.  Upon graduation in 1955, he served in the US Navy aboard the USS Boston, world's first guided missile cruiser.  Don made the best decision of his life when he married Joyce in June 1956, and he began his real estate career with Baird & Warner in Chicago. Moving to Glen Ellyn in 1961, he later worked for Thorsen and Coldwell Banker Real Estate, serving as president of the latter for 8 years until his retirement in 1989.  He was active in the DuPage, llinois, and National Associations of Realtors, and was elected president of the Illinois Association of Realtors in 1981.

Don was passionate about fair housing for all, and he served on the board of directors for a number of nonprofit housing agencies. He also served on the board of directors for the B.R. Ryall YMCA, Faith Lutheran Church, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, CHAD, and Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage.

Don loved the Wisconsin Badgers, Chicago Cubs, pontoon rides on Powers Lake, watching the sunset, old Westerns, Oreos, and ice cream, yet his hobby and greatest love was his family.

Don was a gentle man of faith, generosity, honesty, and integrity, yet his finest legacy is raising four children who love God as he did.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 17 from 5-8 pm at Leonard Memorial Home, 565 Duane St., Glen Ellyn, 630-469-0032. Memorial service will be held Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 41 N. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn, 630-469-2361.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, B.R. Ryall YMCA, or Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. 

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