Don Laws

Donald Dewane Laws, age 81, 832 Country Club Drive East, Quincy, died on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 1:37 a.m. in his home. He was born on March 24, 1933 in Memphis, Missouri, the son of Clarence and Mary Mae Summers Laws. On June 25, 1955, he married Sheila Kathleen Menne in St. Peter's Catholic Church. She survives. Don was the youngest of seven children, and moved to Quincy with his family in his early years. He attended the Quincy grade schools and graduated from Quincy Senior High School in 1951. Don spent three years in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1954. He serving during the Korean War aboard the USS Buck, a Sumner class destroyer. Don and Sheila lived in the Quad-Cities while Sheila attended Palmer College of Chiropractic. After she graduated in 1962 the family moved to Quincy. Don was employed for 30 years as a customer service agent for Ozark Airlines. He was initially based in Moline, Illinois before working out of Quincy at Baldwin Field. He retired from Ozark in 1986, while stationed at Madison, Wisconsin. After his retirement he started a lawn-care and painting business and cared for his customers for 25 years. Don served as President of the Mendon Lions C...[more]

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(1997-1998) when Sheila and Don lived in their country home outside Mendon. He was known for his wit, storytelling, and joking with anyone with whom he talked. He enjoyed his grandchildren's sporting events, following the success of the QND sports teams, and working outdoors. Don loved Christmas, and he spoiled his family making special Christmas memories. During his working years and after his retirement, he and Sheila traveled extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Ireland, New Zealand, & Australia Survivors in addition to his wife include four children, Dr. Diana (Todd) Franklin of Quincy, Dr. Suzanne (Jon) Feldmann of Monmouth, IL, Julie (Rick) Bruening of Quincy, and Joseph (Larry Sawallish) Laws of Quincy; seven grandchildren, Brandon (Molly) Bruening, Christopher (Letha) Franklin, Jennifer Schofield, Heather (Dr. Greg) Bosshardt, Tristin Bruening, Andrew (Amanda) Schofield, and Daniel (Julie) Schofield; seven great-grandchildren, Simon, Cecilia, Samuel and Augustine Bruening, Alex and Luke Bosshardt, Elizabeth Schofield, and two more due this fall. Don was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: William, Henry, Kenneth, & Lester Laws, and two sisters, Lena Allen & Mae Laws. Services: 9:30 prayers on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Peter with Monsignor Leo Enlow officiating. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois with Military Rites conducted by the American Legion Post #37 Visitation: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Memorials: Blessing Foundation for Hospice, Quincy Humane Society or QND Sports Program www.hansenspear.com Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.