Donald Auberg

Donald K. Auberg, Age 85 of DeKalb, formerly of Downers Grove, IL, passed away peacefully, Tuesday afternoon, May 9, 2006 at the DeKalb County Rehabilitation Center, DeKalb, IL. BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born August 27, 1920 in Chicago, IL, the son of John Edward and Luella Ethel (LeBaron) Auberg. Although his family moved briefly to Wisconsin, Donald’s severe asthma forced them to return to Chicago where he attended Steinmetz High School and met his future wife, Marion Baldridge. Donald graduated with the class of 1939 and two years later, he and Marion were wed at her parents home on March 22, 1941. The journey of their life-time began with a brand new Buick and an ill fated ride to the west coast. Though nearly penniless from the start, Donald had bargained to be the "delivery driver" of a new Buick purchased in Chicago for a California customer. The trip would turn sour, however, when slippery mountain roads took control just long enough to damage the front bumper. True to his nature, Donald would spend what little he had, to make it right and begin life broke in California. Shortly however, his determination and faith would find him a job and a place to live. McDonald-Douglas was busy building planes for the war. Although Donald’s asthma had forced a medical discharge from basic training earlier, he would serve his country as did many others, building aircraft. When the war ended, so did Donald’s employment for a time. Returning to Chicago, however, he returned to work with McDonald Douglas where his skill and his eye for detail management, made him shop foreman. In time, plant working conditions would aggravate his old nemesis, asthma, and force Donald to seek another job. His father in-law helped him get into commercial sheet metal working through the union and Donald became employed with City Glass in Chicago. Soon afterward, he took another job with Chicago Glass Company, creating store fronts and custom architectural windows and doors for commercial applications across the city. It was a career that would one day span two generations as Donald’s son, John Scott followed in his footsteps. Donald was a member of Union Local #73 and employed at Chicago Glass until his retirement in 1982. FAMILY LIFEA "jack-of-all-trades" and even "master-of-many", Donald’s insatiable curiosity would be both a blessing and a curse as far as Marion was concerned. At one time or another, Don managed to disassemble most of her appliances – not because they were broken but because he wanted to be sure he would know how to fix them IF they ever did break down! Fortunately, Don was a capable as he was curious and those adventures were among the experiences that enabled him to eventually build his wife and family a beautiful custom home in Downers Grove. There too, he was active in the First Baptist Church where he ran an extensive audio system for worship services and programs. Don and Marion were, for their generation, living the dream of post-war America when tragedy struck home and their two-year-old Annette, succumbed to a brain tumor. Life would go on but the lessons of loss forever made life more precious and faith more important. The hard-working, humble man who would give the shirt from his back to anyone in need, made sure that he was always present for his wife and children; involved in their lives and helping them succeed. When retirement blessed them with the opportunity to travel, the ever inventive Don, purchased, disassembled, re-wired and remodeled a motor home to conform to Auberg Standards! Although Don’s personal passion for railroading had been focused for years on model trains and an elaborate system he constructed in the family basement, he now had the chance to play out those travels on real rails. Together, he and Marion motored across America from depot to depot in all fifty states, just to ride the trains. They took scenic trips through the mountains and along historic passages on equally historic trains. A lifetime of memories were made as well on local trips to Union Illinois where his children and grandchildren rode historic trains with Don. In recent years, he and Marion had moved to the Sycamore area, not many miles from their son, John Scott. The last months of Don’s life came to pass in the company of Alzheimer’s Disease. Amid declining health and memory, Donald found at last the "railroad to heaven" and caught his last steam engine out of DeKalb, May 9, 2006. A man who believed firmly in his Savior’s eternal promise and who followed the great trains of the last century from coast to coast, it seems a fitting thought that something as sure and certain as those shiny steel rails, could at finally lead Donald beyond the confusion of this world to the peace and beauty of heaven. SURVIVORSHe is survived by: His devoted wife, Marion of DeKalb,Four children:Cordelia "DeeAnn" (Chris) Christensen of North Hampton, NHRobert "Bob" (Gail) Auberg of Newport News, VASandra (William) Strein of Kingston, NY and John Scott (Teri) Auberg of Virgil, ILeleven grandchildren, Peter Christensen, David (Kelly) Christensen, James Christensen andDaisey Christensen (David Shaw);Dana (Tanya) Auberg andJamie Auberg;Lisa and Rachael Strein;Bradley and Matthew Auberg;three great-grandchildren William Christensen Shaw, Christopher and Dustin Auberg, one sister, Ruth (Bruce) Havens of Eureka Springs, AR And several nieces and nephews and many friends. PRECEDEDDonald is preceded in death by his parents,One daughter, Annette, One grandson, Douglas ChristensenTwo brothers Richard Auberg and Robert Auberg in infancy.VISITATION / FUNERALVisitation will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2006 from 4-7:30pm with funeral services to follow at 8pm Wednesday at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. The Rev. Dan Stovall, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Sycamore, will officiate. Interment will conclude on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at Oakwood Cemetery, Sharon, WI. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Donald’s name. Memorials checks may be made to the Donald Auberg Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For further information call 1-800-8-CONLEY.

Service at 8:00pm following visitation from 4-7:30pm

Oakwood Cemetery, Sharon Wisconsin