Belvidere, IL

Donald A. Pond 64, of Belvidere, IL died peacefully, Thursday afternoon, August 21, 2014 in P.A. Peterson after a short illness.  Donald was born November 1, 1949 in Belvidere, IL the son of Warren A. and Dorothy L. (Powell) Pond.  Don graduated from the University of Illinois in 1969 earning his Air Frame and Power Plant certificate and pilots license.   He served in the US Air Force before beginning his career as an aircraft mechanic.  Don retired from Emery Air in Rockford on April 5, 2014 after 42 years of service.  Don lived an interesting life.  He enjoyed gardening –both flowers and vegetables, spending time hiking and canoeing in the Canadian Boundary Waters and Yellowstone.  He was a long distance bicyclist-having ridden the RAGBRAI in Iowa numerous times; and loved spending time with his friends.

Donald is loved and will be missed by his mother, Dorothy Pond of Belvidere, IL; sister, Kathy Anderson of Rockford, IL; brother, Russell (Cyndy) Pond of Hastings, MN; nephew and nieces, Mathew B. Anderson of Springfield, IL, Julie E. Peyton of Portland, OR, Amy Pond of Minneapolis, MN, Kristen Waby of Hilliard, OH; great nieces and nephews, Sara, Kayla, Tyler Anderson, Owen, Emma, Asher Waby.

Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, August 30, 2014 in Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services at Buck-Wheeler-Hyland, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, IL with Rev. Dan Schenck officiating.  Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home.  Memorials can be given in care of the Diabetes Foundation or the American Cancer Society in Donald's memory.  To light a candle or to share a memory, please visit www.AndersonFCS.com