Donald Eugene Wasson

Donald Eugene Wasson was called home on September 18, 2021, at 95 years young. Don is preceded in death by his wonderful loving wife Carol Jane Wasson, devoted and loving daughter Janet Sue Thul, and his loving faithful dog and best friend Dusty. Don is survived by his Beloved Brother Jerry and his Wife Phyllis, Devoted Loving Sons Philip and his Wife Lou-Anne, and Jeff and his Wife Susan. Also survived by his Cherished Grandchildren Mary Mitchell and her Husband Mark, Allison Kuhnlein and her Husband Steve, Donald Thul and his Wife Sarah, Andrea Thul, Shawn Wasson, Adam Wasson, Christopher Wasson, Melanie Wasson, Matthew Wasson, and Beautiful Great-Grandchildren Dominic Kuhnlein, Audrey Mitchell, Reagan Mitchell, Donald Thul, and Carson Thul. He started at Victory Memorial as the Director of Physical Therapy in 1961. Before that, Don was a Navy Corpsman in WWII and served on the USS Sanctuary, a hospital ship. The Sanctuary's motto was "Copiae Servamus": We serve the troops. Service became Don’s mission in life and he practiced it in his compassion for healthcare and all of those he had the pleasure to work with over the years. During his time in the Navy, Don’s ship transported POWs from mainland Japan back to the US. Don would often recall his time during those events where he was caring for very sick POWs who were not treated very well during the war. After returning from the Navy, Don graduated from Washington State University in the early 1950’s with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy. He later went on to earn his master’s degree in Management in 1979 from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. During his amazing career, Don worked with pediatric Polio patients at Riley Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis and then started the Physical Therapy department at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne Indiana. He was then recruited to Victory Memorial Hospital in Waukegan Illinois as Director of the Physical Therapy department, became an Assistant Administrator in 1968, was then named Chief Operating Officer in 1973, and then in 1988 was promoted to the position of Hospital President. He retired with full honors in 1990 with the respect, affection, admiration, and gratitude of the entire hospital organization. Although he had made significant contributions to all the medical organizations he was involved in throughout his career, by far his greatest contribution and love was for his family. He dearly loved his cherished wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They meant everything to him and were the most precious honor anyone would have ever been fortunate enough to receive. Memorial Gathering and Visitation on Saturday, October 16th from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at Saint Mark Lutheran Church 675 N Mulford Road, Rockford Illinois 61107. Memorial service to follow at 11:00 – 12:00 PM, Luncheon to follow.