Donald Jack Ferguson

Donald Jack Ferguson was born on January 2, 1936 in Joliet, IL and raised in Lockport, IL. He died on April 3, 2019 at Acacia Health Center at Sagewood in Phoenix, AZ. Don was the son of Donald and Edna (Hinch) Ferguson and brother to Jim Ferguson and Janet (Ferguson) Troyer, who have all predeceased him. He graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. He met Thelma (Conrad) there, to whom he was happily wed in 1959. They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. Don was drafted into the Army, and spent one year of his six year military career in Korea. After returning to the U.S. and civilian life, Don soon took a job with Intermatic Inc., an electronic products manufacturing company headquartered in Spring Grove, IL. He retired in 1999 as the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing after 35 years of service. During their marriage, Don and Thelma moved 13 times, establishing new homes in Illinois, Michigan, New York, California, and New Jersey. They laid down permanent roots in Crystal Lake, IL (northwest of Chicago), where they were active members of the First Congregational Church and made many ...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

se friends. After retiring, Don and Thelma moved to Scottsdale, where they lived in the CopperWynd neighborhood (in Fountain Hills) from 2001 to 2016, before moving to Sagewood. Don's business took him all over the world. They are thankful that they were often able to combine business travel with pleasure trips and visit five continents (all but Antarctica), all 50 states, and 45 countries. Don and Thelma have two successful children who represent the greatest achievements of their lives. Marc, married to Mary (Fogelberg) and Jean, married to David Thomas. Their three grandchildren are Ashley (Ferguson) Bontke, Marcus Ferguson, and Conrad Thomas. Throughout his life, Don had many interests including reading, a love for Frank Sinatra, jazz, and the musicians of the Great American Songbook. He loved photography, electronics, his cats Daisy and Onslow, and staying on top of current events. A memorial service will be held at the Oasis at Sagewood, 4555 East Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ on Thursday, April 11 from 1-2pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center-Research, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 where Don received over 30 years of excellent care. Visit www.hansenmortuary.com for online condolences.