Obituaries
2
trees
planted in memory of Donald E. Morthland
Obituary for Donald E. Morthland
DONALD E. MORTHLAND, 83, of Morrison, IL, died Monday, February 7, 2022 at his home.
His funeral service will be held at 12:30 PM on Friday, February, 11, 2022, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Morrison with Rev. Anthony Appel officiating. The visitation will precede the service starting at 11:00 AM until the start of the service. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison. Memorials have been established to American Heart Association and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He was born December 20, 1938, in Morrison, IL, to Donald T.E. and Gertrude (Geerts) Morthland. He was educated in the Unionville School and was a graduate of Morrison High School in 1956. He married Ruth R. Schol on July 1, 1960, in Morrison. Donald was employed at Bogott’s Plumbing Inc. in Morrison as a plumber pipefitter for 38 years and a member of Local Union 25. He was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Donald enjoyed many years of hunting specifically coon hunting and bear hunting; he loved raising and training his hunting dogs. Although Don bear hunted for many years, he never shot a bear. When asked why he never shot a bear he stated, “then the hunt is over, I love hunting and working with my dogs”. In his later years after retirement, he played golf on every day possible; he rarely missed a day of golf. He built and repaired golf clubs for many in our area. If you ever saw Don’s basement walls you would never forget them, they were lined with over 5,000 logo golf balls. He and Ruth became snowbirds to Gulf Shores, Alabama for 20 years and made lifelong friends with many other couples, and of course he golfed every day while there. While in Alabama Don enjoyed running the weekly Euchre events and attending the many social hour events in their complex. Don coached girls softball for 17 years specifically the Tigers (Go Tigers), he developed long lasting relationships with many of the girls he coached. Don enjoyed his early morning coffee hour with the guys discussing local and world events. He loved attending, watching, and sometimes videoing his grandchildren’s sporting events no matter the sport. After 50 years in the family home Don and Ruth move to a condo last year, he loved to sit on the balcony and watch the wildlife and the sunsets, he was very happy there.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; two daughters, Julie (Richard) Damhoff and JoAnn (Michael) Ottens both of Morrison; five grandchildren, Angela (Brian) Waugh, Lindsay Damhoff, Jill Damhoff, David “Bubba” Dykstra and Samuel (Hannah) Ottens; ten great-grandchildren, Trae, Lainah, Kirsten, Blayne, Keeley, Ethan, Evan, Addison, Quinn and Camden; two brothers, Allen Morthland of Rock Falls, IL and Douglas Morthland of Morrison.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Jason Damhoff
Read More
His funeral service will be held at 12:30 PM on Friday, February, 11, 2022, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Morrison with Rev. Anthony Appel officiating. The visitation will precede the service starting at 11:00 AM until the start of the service. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison. Memorials have been established to American Heart Association and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He was born December 20, 1938, in Morrison, IL, to Donald T.E. and Gertrude (Geerts) Morthland. He was educated in the Unionville School and was a graduate of Morrison High School in 1956. He married Ruth R. Schol on July 1, 1960, in Morrison. Donald was employed at Bogott’s Plumbing Inc. in Morrison as a plumber pipefitter for 38 years and a member of Local Union 25. He was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Donald enjoyed many years of hunting specifically coon hunting and bear hunting; he loved raising and training his hunting dogs. Although Don bear hunted for many years, he never shot a bear. When asked why he never shot a bear he stated, “then the hunt is over, I love hunting and working with my dogs”. In his later years after retirement, he played golf on every day possible; he rarely missed a day of golf. He built and repaired golf clubs for many in our area. If you ever saw Don’s basement walls you would never forget them, they were lined with over 5,000 logo golf balls. He and Ruth became snowbirds to Gulf Shores, Alabama for 20 years and made lifelong friends with many other couples, and of course he golfed every day while there. While in Alabama Don enjoyed running the weekly Euchre events and attending the many social hour events in their complex. Don coached girls softball for 17 years specifically the Tigers (Go Tigers), he developed long lasting relationships with many of the girls he coached. Don enjoyed his early morning coffee hour with the guys discussing local and world events. He loved attending, watching, and sometimes videoing his grandchildren’s sporting events no matter the sport. After 50 years in the family home Don and Ruth move to a condo last year, he loved to sit on the balcony and watch the wildlife and the sunsets, he was very happy there.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; two daughters, Julie (Richard) Damhoff and JoAnn (Michael) Ottens both of Morrison; five grandchildren, Angela (Brian) Waugh, Lindsay Damhoff, Jill Damhoff, David “Bubba” Dykstra and Samuel (Hannah) Ottens; ten great-grandchildren, Trae, Lainah, Kirsten, Blayne, Keeley, Ethan, Evan, Addison, Quinn and Camden; two brothers, Allen Morthland of Rock Falls, IL and Douglas Morthland of Morrison.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Jason Damhoff
To plant a tree in memory of Donald E. Morthland, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
11
Feb
11:00 AM
- 12:30 PM
St. Peter Lutheran Church
601 N. Jackson Street
Morrison, IL 61270
Service
Friday
11
Feb
12:30 PM
St. Peter Lutheran Church
601 N. Jackson Street
Morrison, IL 61270
Cemetery Details
Location
Grove Hill Cemetery
East High Street
Morrison, IL 61270
Memorial Contribution
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
Memphis, TN 38105
American Heart Association
Loading...