Funeral services for Donald R. "Don" Williams, 83, of East Moline, IL, will be 1:00PM Saturday at the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline, IL. Burial will be in Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00PM Friday at the funeral home. Mr. Williams passed away on September 25, 2009 at home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Memorials can be made to the family for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event. Born April 15, 1926 to Henery Irwin and Blanche G. Williams in Pea Ridge, Illinois where he grew up on the family farm. He graduated from Brown County Community High School, Mt. Sterling, Illinois in 1944. Don served in the United States Army during WWII. He was in the 70th Division, 274th Infantry Regiment and traveled throughout Europe from July 1944 - June 1946. Don attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Medal, the Purple Heart medal as well several other medals. Don then graduated from University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana in 1950 with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He married Doris (Sutterer) Williams on July 16, 1955 in Rock Island, Illinois. Don retired in October 1982 after 32 years of service at John Deere Foundry where he was the Manager of Manufacturing and Plant Engineering (he had also worked at John Deere Spreader Works, Deere Administrative Center, and John Deere Mallable Works throughout his career). Don was a member of the American Legion Post 227, University of Illinois' Dad's Club, Deere and Company Retiree Club and the Handy Man of America Club. He was also a member of the local Department 56 Collector's Group, Quad Cities Village People, and volunteered for the American Cancer Society. He also enjoyed traveling. Don and his wife traveled all 50 states together as well as Europe, Mexico and Canada. He is survived by his beloved wife, Doris, East Moline, his loving daughters, Mary (Michael) Wassell, Geneseo and Melissa (Tom) Bierlein, Ellettsville, Indiana and a son-in-law, Eric Horne, Crystal Lake, Illinois. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Michael Donald (Jennifer) Wassell, Urbana, Illinois, Jonathan Daniel Wassell, Champaign, Illinois, Megan Elizabeth Horne, Woodstock, Illinois and Thomas John Wassell, Geneseo, Illinois. He thoroughly enjoyed all of his children and grandchildren's accomplishments. He is also survived by his wonderful sister, Isabelle (Joseph) Goveia, Scottsdale, Arizona, many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henery Irwin and Blanche G. Williams, his sister, Mary Ann (Lantz) Bye, and his daughter, Melinda (Williams) Horne. Don's family would like to thank his physicians for their wonderful care, compassion, and expertise while caring for him. Particular thanks to Dr. Robert Flowers, Dr. William Mobley, Dr. Mario Sy and the staff at Hematology Oncology Associates, Dr. James Schrier, Dr. Robert Harson, Dr. Akshay Mahadevia, Dr. Ajay LaBroo and Dr. James Wymore. In addition, special thanks to Option Health and Trinity Regional Health System, Seventh Street and West Campus. His family appreciates the wonderful care that he received throughout his illness. Don's family would also like to thank his wonderful sister and brother-in-law for their help the past couple of months, their neighbors Kay and Tom O'Brien for all of their assistance and all of our many friends, family and neighbors who stopped and visited with him while he was ill. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com