Donald Leroy Hepner, 79, of Orion died Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at Illini Restorative Care, Silvis.
    Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Orion. Visitation was from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Western Township Cemetery, Orion, where military honors will be conducted.
    Memorials may be made to the church or Orion Food Pantry.    
    Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., is assisting the family.
    Don was born April 29, 1930, in Kewanee, the son of Louis and Zelma (Heise) Hepner. He married Shirley Behnke on Sept. 9, 1951, in Kewanee.
    He farmed in Kewanee until 1961 and was an insurance agent for 14 years before starting Hepner Insurance Agency, Orion, in 1975. He never officially retired from the agency.
    Don was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in the Korean Conflict. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ophiem American Legion Post 1077 and Sherman Lodge 535 A.F. & A.M. of Orion, and he was a former trustee of the Orion Fire Protection District.
    He was a Cub fan and enjoyed fishing and watching his grandchildren play sports.
    The family would especially like to thank the staff, doctors and nurses of Illini Restorative Care for their kindness and support.
    He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley; daughters, Susan (Vincent) Stroup of Orion and Mary (Bill) Unger of Moline; sons, Rick (Joyce) Hepner, Mike (Tracy) Hepner,  and Tom (Kim) Hepner, all of Orion; grandchildren Ryan (Jana) Stroup, Justin (Carin) Stroup, Kristi (David) Chipman, Sarah (Brian Allen) Hepner, Austin Hepner, Steven Unger, Colin Hepner, Darby Hepner and Luke Hepner; great-granddaughter, Elodie Stroup; sister, Florence Palmer of Geneseo; and his dog, Riley.
    He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Martin and Marvin Hepner, all of Kewanee.
    Online condolences may be expressed to Don’s family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahlmortuary.com.