Donald (Don) D. Duba, born April 9, 1952, to Anton (Tony) Duba and Vivian Duba, passed away, at the age of 73, peacefully during the afternoon of May 16, 2025, after a yearlong battle with cancer.
Don was a graduate of Waukegan High School. Throughout his school years, he was a member of the Boy Scouts and ultimately earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduation, Don worked as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician for the family business Dependable Heating and Air Conditioning. On September 15, 1973, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Maureen (Mo) Davis.
Don was a skilled mechanic, machinist and welder. He was an expert in his trade and in the 1980s assumed ownership of running the family business until his retirement.
Don and Mo built their own house in Gurnee where they raised four children. In his later years, Don moved to Union Grove where he spent many years care taking the family farm. He loved the outdoors and no project was too big. Even at the age of 71 you could find him any day out at the farm cutting down trees, chopping firewood, mowing grass or tugging out of the barn old steam engines from the turn of the century, oiling them up and getting them running all to the delight of the grandkids.
Nearly every summer weekend, Don would take his grandkids on tractor rides, pioneer rides, and ATV rides. They will miss their Papa Bird. The farm parties will not be the same without him.
Those he leaves behind will cherish his memories. He leaves behind his sister, four children and seven grandchildren. During this past challenging year, many extended families and friends have helped offer comfort, strength and guidance as the immediate family navigated the rough waters of illness and we are all eternally grateful.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mo.
Donny was always a storyteller, crafting tails of his colorful life and sharing them with anyone who would lend an ear. In the end, we are all just stories, remembered by the adventures we had, the achievements we made and the people we loved.
We will miss you. Rest in Peace Donny.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date.
