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Donald C. Sturm

Donald C. Sturm, D.D.S, 86, Wonder Lake, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at JourneyCare, Barrington, with his family at his side.

He was born May 19, 1927, to George Albert and Vera Mae (Hickman) Sturm in Macomb.

He joined the Navy immediately after graduating from Macomb High School in 1945 and served as a pharmacist’s mate. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he married his high school sweetheart, Esther Chloe Vogler, Feb. 12, 1949, in Macomb.

He attended Western Illinois University and then Loyola University’s School of Dentistry, receiving his D.D.S. in 1953. He and his wife moved to Wonder Lake, and he opened a practice on Hancock Drive in the same building with Dr. S.L. Ruggero. He practiced dentistry until he retired at the age of 72. He was a member of the Pierre Fauchard Honor Society, a fellow of the F.A.G.D. Academy of General Dentistry and a member and past president of the McHenry County Dental Society.

He enjoyed living in Wonder Lake where he served on the Harrison School Board, was a member of the Wonder Lake Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of the Wonder Lake State Bank, was a delegate to the MPOA and was a past Cubmaster of Troop 456. He was a past grand marshall of the Wonder Lake Fourth of July Parade

Survivors include his wife of 65 years; nine children, Deborah (Richard) Draper, Donald (Jayne) Sturm, David (Georgette) Sturm, Delora (Steven) Gerhardt, Diane (Joe) Shoemaker, Doreen (Richard) Berndt, Dee Laine (Terry) Selke, Dawn (Scott) Steinbach and Dina (Steven) Dermont; 22 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; a brother, James Sturm; and two sisters, LuJean Scammon and Anne (Casey) Jones.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Charles, William and Carl; two sisters, Barbara and Irene; and a grandson, Bret Gerhardt.

Visitation and funeral were held March 1 at Justen Funeral Home & Crematory, McHenry. Inurnment was private. Memorials can be made to the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District, P.O. Box 447, Wonder Lake, IL 60097; Pioneer Center for Human Services, 4001 Dayton St., McHenry, IL 60050; or the Costello Syndrome Family Network, P.O. Box 516, Woodinville, WA 98072-0516.

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