Donald Howard Harris, 91, of Naperville passed away peacefully at home on March 10, 2024. A service will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1101 Kimberly Way, Lisle, IL. Visitation will take place from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m and service following at 10:30 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Darien.
Don was born May 18, 1932, in Moorcroft, Wyoming to Tom and Fannie Harris where he grew up on a ranch. He loved to tell everyone that he could remember the names of every person in his high school graduating class….there were 6 other students! Following high school Don served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years. Following that he attended the University of Wyoming and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. During college he married the love of his life, Karen Clark in 1955. They were blessed with two daughters, Lynne and Lorna, and son Kevin. Don’s career was spent with Boeing, Western Electric, AT&T, Bell Labs and Lucent. His career and friendships spanned across many states coast to coast. Later in his career he received his MBA at Benedictine University. During the early years of both his and Karen’s retirements, they enjoyed spending time between Naperville and Conroe, Texas.
Favorite pastimes of Don’s included fishing, camping, golfing, volunteering at Trinity Lutheran Church, playing bridge with Karen and friends, his vegetable gardens and spending time with his family. His grandsons lit up his world.
Don is survived by his daughter Lynne, her husband Dan and their sons Kevin and Andy Marsh, and his daughter Lorna and her husband Bruce and their sons Jeremiah and Greg (Ariana) Benes. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister and brothers, dearly loved son Kevin, and Karen, to whom he was married to for 67 years.
During the last year of Don’s earthly life, he was blessed with the loving care and friendship of his caregiver, Nina. Don’s family will forever be grateful to Nina.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor one of your favorite charities or organizations in memory of Don.
