David Lawrence McDonald (”Mr. Mac” to his students), 95 of Taylorville, passed away in his home at 8:28 p.m. on Friday, October 13, 2023. He was born July 9, 1928, to Charles Joseph and Gertrude Helen (Lamar) McDonald on the family farm five miles south of Hardin, Illinois, where he remained until he stayed with his mother in Wood River, Illinois during the World War 2 years. His mother was working in a munition plant, and David discovered a love of industrial arts at the local high school. He then continued his education at Illinois State Normal University and graduated in 1951 with the understanding that he would succeed his high school industrial arts teacher who was planning retirement. Eventually, David would return to receive his Master’s degree at his Alma Mater, but he never taught at Wood River as initially planned. His career as a teacher was put on hold while he served as a member of the United States Marine Corp during the Korean War. On February 6,1954, he married Dorothy Patricia (Pat) Donahue in Cullom, Illinois, a union that would eventually give them seven children to which was added a pair of teenage cousins to complete the family. His career as a teacher finally began in 1955 in Beardstown, Illinois, and continued in Taylorville beginning in 1963, where his teaching efforts were officially recognized with his selection as the Illinois Industrial Arts “Teacher of the Year” in 1975. At that point in his life came a hiatus from teaching for over twenty years, during which time he worked at Peabody Mine #10 as a safety instructor and printed for them a popular newsletter titled The Underground until the closing of the mine. Not long after beginning a printing business (The Ink Spot), he found himself back in the classroom. A part time position in Pana soon turned into a full time position. While teaching in Pana, he took over the school newspaper and had the students doing all of the writing, the layout, and the printing completely in-house.
David was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Taylorville, where he served as a eucharistic minister and a choir member, and for a time supervised the youths who printed the weekly bulletins. For many years he printed T-shirts and made homemade ice cream for the children participating in Vacation Bible School at St. Patrick’s in Pana. He also printed shirts for local preschools. He was a life member of both the K of C and the NEA, and a longtime member of Moose Lodge #1516, but most important to him was family, and he loved going on outings and working on projects with his children, always adding to the fun with an obvious joie de vivre. At one point, St. Mary’s parish recognized him as their “Father of the Year.”
He is survived by his wife: Pat McDonald of Taylorville; children: Jean Ann McDonald of Edinburg, Christopher Thomas (Elizabeth) McDonald of Urbana, Charles James (Paula) McDonald of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mary Michele “Mickey” (Frank) Emerson of Taylorville, Patricia Jo (Robert) Ruckstuhl of New Berry, Ohio, Kathleen Marie (David) Johnson of Owings Maryland, David Vincent McDonald of Taylorville, Karen (Don) Mills of Taylorville, and Diana Damarin of Taylorville; grandchildren: Christopher Giles McDonald, Gregory Michael (Magdalena) McDonald, Franklin Thad (Kayla) Emerson, Brian (Courtney) McCain, Jennifer (Adam) Swann, Sarah (Luis) Negroni, John (Jeni) Damarin, and Brandon Mills; great grandchildren: Alphie McDonald, Cecilia McDonald, Issac McDonald, Kolbe McDonald, Max McDonald, Otto McDonald, Elizabeth Emerson, Frankie Emerson, Ruthie McCain, Sophia McCain, William Swann, Henry Swann, Hazel Swann, Chris Olivier, Chance Negroni, Brittany Ervin, James Wynn, Alayjah Negroni, Kyla Thomas, and Josiah Negroni; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandchildren: Christine Emerson, Katlyn Emerson, and Stephanie Emerson; and siblings: Charles Joseph McDonald, James Viator McDonald, Paul Thomas McDonald, Mary Elizabeth Schneider, and an infant sister.
Mr. McDonald chose to donate his body to scientific research. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 10, 2023, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Taylorville with Fr. Piotr Kosk officiating. The visitation will take place at 9:30 prior to the mass in the church. Memorial donations may be made to the McDonald Family to be shared among charities that are special to the family. McClure Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Taylorville is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories of David, or condolences to the family, may be shared online at www.mcclurefuneralhome.com.
