Donald F. Brekke

Donald Floyd Brekke, 92, of Rockford, passed away on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Born on May 12, 1924 in Grettinger, Iowa; son of John and Gertrude (Zielstra) Brekke. Don grew up on a farm in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. He met and married LaVerna Wahl in Blooming Prairie, MN on February 27, 1945, she passed away on September 22, 1993. He then married Helen Teague in Rockford on July 17, 1999, she passed away on April 18, 2016. Don joined the Navy on April 6, 1943. He served aboard the USS Corregidore and the USS Killen. He was discharged on November 25, 1945 a WWII veteran, Petty Officer 2nd Class. Don remained a lifetime member of the VFW and Tin Can Sailors. Before and after the Navy he worked at Rockford Screw Products for 27 years. He also did maintenance at Genoa high school and then P.A. Peterson Center for Health for 5 years and retired in 1984. He attended Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rockford. Don enjoyed going to auctions, antique flea markets and garage sales. He loved to collect Navy collectibles from WWII, rubber tire ashtrays, old cars, planes, tractors, etc. Don also loved spending several winters in Florida. He was very good at doing electrical and plumbing work. He could fix anything and everything, he was just overall very handy whether inside or outside of the home.
Survived by his daughters, Connie (Ted) Perrone of Rockford and Debra (Alan) Avino of Tucson, AZ; grandchild, Brandon (Nicole) Bradle of Franklin Park, IL; great-grandchildren, Nicholas and McKayla Bradle; sister, Dorothy Wales of Rockford; 4 step-children; 12 step-grandchildren; 2 step-sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents; brothers, Roy, Glenn and Richard; sister, Harriet Miller; brothers-in-law, Robert Miller, Robert Wales and Richard Wahl; sister-in-law, Elwyn Brekke.
Funeral service will be held at 12:00pm on Monday, October 24, 2016 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road with Pastor Tony Dusso officiating. Burial in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11:00 – 12:00pm on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family for a memorial to be established. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108. To express condolences online, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com