William Lee Donnan

William L. Donnan, 88, of Lake Zurich, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 11, 2023. He was born in Janesville, WI on March 7, 1935 to Earl and Josephine Donnan.

Bill grew up in Hanover, IL and enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon his return, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics Education from Illinois State University. He went on to receive his Master’s from Northeastern Illinois University.

In 1959, Bill met Barbara Geiger at his sister, Mary Jo’s wedding, in St. Paul, MN. They were married on August 6, 1960 and moved to Lostant, IL. In the fall of 1962, they moved to Lake Zurich and he started teaching at Ela Vernon High School now known as Lake Zurich Senior High School.

Bill retired from teaching in 1991 and went on to work for Secretary of State’s office in Libertyville. He retired from the Secretary of State and went to work for Ela Township as a township trustee and was elected Clerk of Ela Township in Lake County.

Bill was a very faithful Catholic man and heavily involved in St. Francis de Sales ministries, St. Vincent de Paul, teachers retirement and was a Grand Knight with the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children, Mary Donnan, Patricia Aument, Linda (Tom) Vrabec, Michael (Valerie) Donnan, and Robert (Samantha) Donnan; grandchildren, Christopher (Samantha) Aument, Jennifer Aument, Megan (William) Riemer, Tyler Aument, Steven Vrabec, Alicia Vrabec, Alexandria (Joseph) Moran, Addison Clark Joseph Donnan, Austinn Donnan, Annalee Donnan, Ella Donnan and Finn Donnan; great grandchildren, Adeline and Adrien Aument, Hunter and Jameson Riemer, and David Labarbara; his brother, John (Arlene) Donnan; and his brother-in- law, Leo White.

Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Jo White.

A visitation will be Friday, June 16, from 3pm until 8pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 941 S. Old Rand Rd., Lake Zurich. Mass will be Saturday, June 17, at 10:30am at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 33 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Michael the Archangel, Palatine.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in Bill's name to the Alzheimer's Association or Mount St. Joseph .