Don Malson of Chillicothe, Illinois, passed away at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the age of 85.
Don "Donnie" was born at Saint Francis Hospital in Peoria on June 11, 1939, to Martha (Buchele) Malson and Russell William Malson. He grew up in Peoria, Illinois, as one of six brothers. He graduated from Spalding Institute High School in 1957. After graduation, he began working locally as an electrician before joining the Air National Guard in 1960. Stationed for part of that time in Alaska, he worked on a variety of airplane engines. He served for six years and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. Afterwards, he enjoyed flying planes out of a small airfield in Peoria, but also applied his engine knowledge to boats, cars and machinery.
Don completed his electrician apprenticeship in 1964, becoming a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 34. He worked as a commercial electrician for Leiter Electric Company and Hatfield Electric Company and supervised many large electrical projects in the Peoria area, including the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He retired on June 29, 2001.
Whenever you drove around town with Don, he would point at various businesses and office buildings and talk about the electrical installation work he did there. He would also tell stories about how he was the only electrician willing to climb 200-foot-tall light poles at the fairgrounds or hang from rafters of buildings to do electrical work, even though most guys were younger.
Don was previously married to Donna Carolyn (Bussey Gayer) Grigg and they had two children, Todd in 1967 (deceased) and Maria in 1968. Together with Donna’s children from a previous marriage, Trip and Stephanie, they lived in a house on the Illinois River and spent summers boating.
On May 22, 1981, Don married Judy Anne Simko Constantino at the home of Judy’s parents, John and Marian Simko. They lived in Chillicothe with Judy’s children, Jim, Janelle, Jill and Jeff.
Once the children moved away, Don and Judy moved to a small house on the Illinois River in Chillicothe. Don loved the Illinois River and watching the barges. He also loved having family reunions at the river house.
Don and Judy owned and operated the Malson Iris Gardens for 37 years. They grew 250 varieties in their gardens, across the street from their house. They had a second home in Bradenton, Florida, where they spent winters and became regulars among the beach crowd on Anna Maria Island. They loved putting up their Christmas tree on the beach every Christmas Day.
Throughout his life, Don could fix or build just about anything. He enjoyed boating, traveling, fishing, water skiing and scuba diving. And, he loved walking the beach with Judy, and then, finding a place to sit to watch the sunset. If you were lucky enough to be with them, he would bring a beer for you.
Don is survived and will be greatly missed by his loving family: his adored wife, Judy (Simko Constantino) Malson; his daughter, Maria (Malson) McCormack and Tim McCormack of Tappan, New York; and three grandchildren, Teigue, Andy and Clare; his step-children and grandchildren, Jim Constantino (Janet) of Cary, NC, and their children Jacqueline and Jacob, Janelle Constantino of Seattle, WA, Jill Constantino (Michael Baran) of Middletown, MD, and their children Rio, Solomon, Raphael and Carmelo, Jeff Constantino (Tori) of Needham, MA, and their children, Riley, Taylor, Devin and Tyler, Walter (Trip) Bussey of Atlanta, GA, and his son, Garrett, and Stephanie Bussey (John Riter) of The Villages, FL. He is also survived by his brothers, sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews, Dick Malson (Carol) and their children, Jeff and Melissa, Jerry Malson (Sharon) and their children, Michael, Michelle and Marc, John Malson (Kathy) and their son, Jeremy, and Tom Malson (Shari) and their children, Christopher and Jason. One brother, Bob Malson (Elaine), was previously deceased.
It was Don’s wish to have no funeral, but instead have a celebration of life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation, Don loved St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). Arrangements are under the care of Weber-Hurd Funeral Home in Chillicothe.
Posted online on August 24, 2024
Published in Peoria Journal Star
