Donnie Gene Ford, Sr, age 82

December 29, 1943 – January 19, 2026

Donnie Gene Ford, Sr, age 82, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 7:00 PM - Monday, January 19, 2026, at Helia Healthcare of Newton.

A service celebrating Donnie's life will be held at 11:00 AM – Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Rick Britton officiating.  The burial will be in the Honey Cemetery in Bogota, Illinois.  A visitation for family and friends from 10:00 AM until service time.  In loving memory of Donnie, memorials may be made to the Ford family.  The obituary can be viewed and condolence left at www.meyerfh.com.

Donnie was born on December 29, 1943, in South Muddy Township, Jasper County, Illinois, the son of Arthur and Millie (Foster) Ford.  He married Mary Pierce on July 31, 1962, in Monticello, Illinois, and four children were born to this union: Donnie Gene Jr, Kathryn Louise, Betty Jo and Tammy Lynn.

Donnie wore many hats throughout his life, worked in construction, driving a truck and as an electrician and for many years he worked for Huddleston Electric.

Donnie was a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Wendelin and Eagles.  He enjoyed gardening, fishing, woodworking, and leather crafts.

Donnie is survived by:

Wife of 63 years – Mary Ford of Newton, Illinois

Children – Kathryn (Donald) Newkirk of Yale, Illinois; Betty (Ronnie) Sparks of Newton, Illinois; and Tammy Snyder of Newton, Illinois

Grandchildren – Cassandra (Tyler) Rogers, Cody Sparks, Kurtis Ford, Danielle Ford, Trent Ford, Chris (Nikka) Ford, Lacey Ford, Adam (Holly) Newkirk, Jesse (Jaime) Newkirk, Ashley (Will) McReynolds, and Hope Snyder (Noah Hall)

Several Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren

Daughter-in-law – Cheryl Ford of Newton, Illinois

Brother – Charlie (Jan) Schackmann of Newton, Illinois

Sisters – Rita Gaines of Newton, Illinois and Rose Schackmann of Noble, Illinois

Donnie was preceded in death by his father Arthur Lee Ford, mother Millie Brassie, son Donnie Gene Ford, Jr, sister Shirley Caldwell, great grandson Caden Lee Sparks, and great-great granddaughter Oakley Mae Perry and brother-in-law Lloyd Gaines.