Donald Joseph Anton, 51, of Urbana, IL, (known growing up as "Donny" or "Donnie" by his family - his mother spelled it inexplicably interchangeably, "Don" by most adulthood friends) was born in Evanston, IL, the second child of Robert and Suzanne (Stell) Anton. He passed onto the heavenly world to join his mom on July 1, 2023, after a year-long fight with acute myeloid leukemia.

As a young boy, Don was known as the "Cookie Monster" because he would canvas his block asking neighbors for cookies.

As the middle child, he learned to be the diplomat, ambassador, and negotiator between his siblings but still had a tendency to pick on his younger sister, Amy (Anton Beller). He was very fortunate that she forgave him for his transgressions as she became his stem cell donor this past spring as a curative treatment was sought.

Generally a sweet-natured child, Don was also known by his family as quick-witted, a bit of a smart-ass, and a never-ending talker. Some of his best talking was trying to get out of trouble, such as when he almost burned down his family's garage when his parents were out bowling one night.

Don's first place of employment was as a dedicated employee at a frozen yogurt shop, where it was likely highly debatable whether the owner made profits when Don was on a shift sampling the frozen treats.

In high school at Carmel Catholic in Mundelein, IL, Don was set straight by a teacher whom he would speak of fondly until his final days, "Coach" Kuykendall, who not only influenced his wanting to be an English teacher but also sparked his life-long super fandom of Bruce Springsteen.

Growing up, Don worked many seasons in his uncle's family greenhouse in Evanston, IL. Don would stay at his Uncle Gary and Aunt Debbie Anton's house next door to rest up for long days laboring in the greenhouse and loved babysitting and being an unofficial big brother to his three cousins, Megan, Laura (Swiler), and Jennifer (Kempker). He also picked up some Spanish working alongside "the guys" in the greenhouse, but none of his second language was appropriate outside the work shed where they'd share many a lunch.

Through these jobs, Don earned the money to put toward his college education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he also was told by his dad to "become one of those resident advisors (RA) to get free room and board."

Entering his senior year of college and second year as an RA in Hopkins Hall in 1993, Don and his fellow RA friends were informed their beloved supervisor, Adam Rockman, was going to be assigned to a different, all-male residence hall in order for the Office of Residential Life to hire a new, female residence hall director to work in Hopkins Hall since it was co-ed. Don and RA friends promptly "stormed the castle" of 300 Clark Hall, the Housing Administration Building, to protest this obviously short-sighted move. As fate would have it, the new hire they were protesting would become Don's wife of 27 years, Patricia ("Trish") Wolfe. His very own "Jersey Girl."

Don and Trish married in 1996 in Urbana, IL, and made the college towns of Champaign-Urbana their home. Don was a National Board-certified master English teacher for over 25 years, mentoring so many students, advising student council, and organizing annual homecoming activities at a high school in Central Illinois. He was particularly dedicated to serving as an ally to minoritized students in the small, rural community and was recognized with many awards for his efforts.

In 2021 Don found a different career calling back in sales, where it all began for him with the folks at the phenomenal family business SunPower by Legacy Solar in Bloomington, IL. Owners Angie (who initially had her doubts about hiring Don because he'd be too nice to close a deal) and Luke Lugenbuhl, and the rest of the Legacy team not only brought him into their fast growing venture but into their loving family. The folks at Legacy helped Don so much in the short time that he was able to be their colleague and friend.

After 11 months of fighting the leukemia with chemotherapy proved unsuccessful, Don's sister, Amy, gave him a chance at a cure being his stem cell donor. Amy became one of his most important cheerleaders, shoulders to cry on, and laughing buddy over the past year. Don's Aunt Peggy Stell, his mom's sister-in-law whom Don referred to as "Mary Poppins", his beloved cousin Megan, who would always bring treats, Trish and their kids rounded out the regular hospital visitor team over the many stays at Northwestern Medicine, the University of Chicago, and Carle Hospital in Urbana. Don was also tremendously thankful to the heroic efforts of the doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, transplant coordinators, lab techs, and housekeeping staff who worked 24/7 to keep him fighting. The family is forever grateful to Dr Adam Duvall at the University of Chicago for helping Don have almost 12 extra months of life after diagnosis, and for hooking Don and Trish up with Springsteen tickets as a special surprise before hospitalization in March.

The absolute proudest accomplishment and biggest point of pride that Don and Trish shared together was raising their two children, Ryan and Riley. Don was the nurturing, coaching, patient, and bad "dad joke" telling parent. He was also the taekwondo, soccer,strings concert, and a super excited volleyball dad. He loved taking the kids on all the endless travel team tournament weekends just so that he could spend time with the two of them. Don and Ryan had many laughs and great conversations over the past year about both ending up in the world of sales, and Riley has stepped in to carry on Don's legacy of loving a well-manicured lawn and fabulous flower/herb/vegetable garden at the family's home. They are the proof that his love for life, positive impact on the world, charm and dashing good looks will live on.

In addition to Trish, Ryan, Riley, his father, Robert, and sister, Amy, Don is survived by his brother, Robert Jr., many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends who became family, including Brittany Sedberry Sage, Patricia Reilly Drake, Gary Slotnick, John Williams, Brian Sparks, and Ken Seneca, and his two wacky dogs, Mayor Pete and Princess Piglet.

A celebration of Don's life will be held later in the summer. Details will be shared on Don's CaringBridge.org site. In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family suggests donations be made to a cancer research society of the donor's choosing.