Don Ferkin passed away peacefully in Sun Lakes, AZ on March 6, 2023 at the age of 88.  Don was born on March 9, 1934, and had a blessed life growing up in Kenosha, WI, where he developed a passion for the outdoors.  His main activities during childhood included fishing and playing all sorts of sports, as he was a stellar athlete.  Upon graduating from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1951, he attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1955 with a degree in Marketing/Finance.  After college, Don joined the U.S. Navy, where they taught him to fly, soloing him at Pensacola in a T-34 on March 17, 1956.  After 10 years of Navy service, he joined American Airlines on June 13, 1966.  He was based in Chicago for his entire aviation career, flying the Convair 990, BAC 111, Boeing 727 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10.  He completed his 28-year career as a Boeing 727 Captain, retiring in 1994 at age 60.  It was the honor of his life to be a pilot at American Airlines.

Don married Mary Ellen Brickley on June 29, 1957.  Don and Mary Ellen had a large family, raising five children on Loch Lomond Lake in Mundelein, IL.  In his spare time, Don loved to golf, fish, ski, and play poker and tennis.  He was very accomplished in his hobbies; he won the Navy golf tournament and played in several pro-am tournaments.  His photo books are filled with countless pictures of trophy fish.

Don spent his retirement years splitting time between Mundelein and Sun Lakes.  In both homes, he continued to nurture his love of sports and fishing.  In addition to his sports activities, he thoroughly enjoyed spending quality time with his seven grandchildren.  He was the best grandpa a child could hope for, taking the grandkids for countless hours to Great America and teaching them to swim in Sun Lakes.

Don is survived by his sister, Joanne Swift of Middleburg, VA; his children:  Marty Ferkin of Virginia Beach, Mike (Monica) Ferkin of Gurnee, IL, Maureen Ferkin of Parker, CO, Diane (Jay) Henry of Salt Lake City, and Donna (Tom) Lantz of Parker, CO; and his grandchildren:  Christine and Jacob Henry, Megan, Julia, Anna and Daniel Lantz, and Kailyn Ferkin.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary Ellen.