Donald McLauchlan Obituary

Don and Geri, I am so sorry to hear about your lose of your Father and now Geri's Mother. I am so sad for the both you and Geri. My prayers will be with you these sad days but I am sure they are seeing each other in Heaven. God love you both.

Ginny,

I’m so sorry for your loss and yet I know you are feeling your father’s strength and heaven’s grace. Take time to connect. Love, Jenny

Ginny-
I am so sorry to hear this news and hope you and your family are doing OK. Sounds like your Dad was the best, and loved you a ton. Take care of yourself, feel it all, and be happy - as I am sure he would want you to.

Best-

Steve

Ginny,
Our hearts and prayers are with you, your family and your Dad this week. I am so sorry for your loss and how much you will miss him. I am so truly happy for you that you did have the times that you had these last few months, the trips to see him and the phone conversations you'll remember and carry in your heart forever. All our love here from us and know you are all in our hearts.
xoxo
Heather and Matt, Maddie and Emma

Ginny,
I'm so sorry about your dad. We will be thinking of you and keeping you and your family in our prayers. It's never easy, but I'm happy for you that he was in your life for so many years. I try to remember that a lot of people never share anything close to what we had with our fathers -- how blessed we are!



Kathy

Ginny and Family,

I'm sending you my best wishes for peace - knowing that your Dad is in a better place and will be reunited with your Mom has to be of comfort to you. However, the loss of a parent is something we never totally get over - we just adjust and keep on going. The pain diminishes but our love and fine memories. don't. Take care of you! Diana

Ginny,



It saddens my heart to hear of your great loss even though you knew the inevitable for a while now. It inspires me to hear of your great love and devotion for your father not only to appreciate my parents that much more but to also be the best father and grandfather that I can possibly be. Ginny, you have my deepest condolences and my prayers are certainly with you and your family. I pray that God holds you close and sees you through this most difficult time. Please let me know if there is anything that I can possibly do to help you through this. I look forward to seeing you soon.



Your Friend,

Joe

Charlene,
I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

McLauchlans all,

I am getting to these comments late due to an unexspected 2 day celebration.

What a send off. I am sure your father would be proud. I know he will be missed.

I am envious of your yearly family reunion.

How about one day spent with old friends and neighbors?

Keep in touch,

John C.Buckingham

Dad was 39 years old when I was born seven out of seven kids. The story he always told me was that they had some anxiety about being pregnant again so he started having dreams that I would have red hair, and was a girl and would be born on St. Patricks Day. Well, he was almost right as I ended up being born the day after since my Mom was Irish and insisted they go to a party. That was the beginning of my special relationship with my Dad.

He wasn’t home as much when I was little so had us scared and straighten up when” my father got home‘. One of the blessings for me that came out when my Mom passed away was tbe closer relationship that grew as a result with my Dad. He was so patient and kind – rarely getting too surprised with any of my teenage issues. The one thing that surprised us both was how domestic he became. The man who wouldn’t take the garbage out when we lived on East Avenue and there was a lot of us still in the house was suddenly picking out carpet and drapes in our new townhome. He was so proud of the McLauchlan plaid drapes and green carpet that reminded him of a putting green. Dad was making our home special and showing how he could evolve and embrace new chapters in life. Keeping our family close was important to him so long before the internet, he would Xerox each of my siblings letters and mail them out to everyone so we were up to date on one another.

My Dad had this amazing presence about him that with a few words could pierce you with insights. I remember what a huge difference with advice to me once as I wrangled with myself questioning if I handled a situation right and Dad said, “Ginny, don’t look back and “what if”. That was so my Dad to say and such a life changing outlook for me at 13 years old.

My Dad exhibited acceptance of what he couldn’t change with such grace and wisdom. Dad even did so with death, being such an example of peaceful acceptance. I feel such a gift from God to have the Dad I had and I will miss him immensely.

I would just like to send my condolences to the entire McLauchlan family. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. McLauclan when I worked at Arrowhead Environmental in the early 90‘s, he and Elaine would come in once a month and help me with the month end close. I learned a lot from him and that has help me with my career. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Dave, Sorry to hear about your dad. Milan and I extend our deepest sympathy out to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Charlene and Family;

Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. We know all too well the emptiness that you feel, but also know that the memories become more precious each day. The lessons learned and time shared are never forgotten. May you continue to draw strength from each other.

Love,
Sharri Warner Willette and Family

Dear Charlene and family,
I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. He was very special man and he did love that game of golf. I remember him coming into Arrowhead one winter day all bundled up with a yellow golf ball and these skin tight goggles on saying that he was going over to practice. There was still some snow on the ground and that's what the yellow golf ball was for!
Hope you find these memories of your dad a constant source of comfort.
Love, Lynn

Charlene and family. We are so sorry for the loss of your dad and loved one. Hopefully your wonderful memories will help you at this time. We had the opportunity to meet your dad at one of your famous family reunions; this one in Colorado many years ago. We just happened to be vacationing in the same park, the same week, just down the road from your reunion site. I remember all the activities, fun, laughter and togetherness that was very evident and your dad was enjoying it all as he rocked in his chair on the cabin porch, just taking it all in. What a joy for everyone to experience that. Our love and thoughts are with you. Karol and Jamie

Dear Ginny and all the McLauchlan's, I have so many wonderful memories of your Dad and your family, both in the neighborhood and at Riverside. When your Mom died, I remember being impressed by how you all stood together and helped each other through that difficult time. Your parents were such loving, giving people, and that love will help you all at this time as well. There is so much to celebrate about your Dad's life, he was respected and loved by so many people. You are in my thoughts and prayers,

Charlie and all the Mclauchlans, sorry to her of your fathers passing. I know he will be missed and that he led a full and wonderful life. Thinking of him brings back many fond memories. I hope for each of us that we can live as full ,long and wonderfull life as your Dad did.Bill Buckingham jr

Dear Don and Charlie,
We are very sorry for your loss.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to all of your family.
The three of you really made a positive influence in the Service Industry throughout the Chicago market. Arrowhead has touched many lives in which We all can recollect many a great experience; I for one am greatful to have known Mr. McLauchlan and the great wisdom he bestowed upon all of us.

To Charlie and all the Mclauchlans. Sorry to her of your fathers passing. I know he will be missed and that he led a wonderfull life.Thinking of him and your family brings back many fond memories.I hope for each of us that we can live a long and fullfilling life as your Dad did. William Buckingham jr.

Dear Charlene and McLauchlan Family

We know the pain for losing your Dad and Husband is hard now but you will get to the joy and peace in God's promise of seeing him again because of Jesus' gift to those who believe in His resurrection.

I did not know Don but yet I did through two of his kids and several grandchildren. I have had the pleasure of working with Ginny and either worked with or know several grandkids along with meeting Peter while enjoying Don's favorite pass-time (golf). The character and ethics I have seen in the family speaks volumes about Don. A legecy I know he had to have been proud of!

God's blessing on you all!

I always felt like I had a second home at the McLauchlan house, and your Dad always made me feel like a member of the family with a gentle pat on the shoulder and that wonderful smile. He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.

Dear Charlene and all the McLaughlans,
Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. How gratifying it is that you have had you father for so many years. Years that have granted you many happy memories. May God bless you all!
Our Love,
The Ron Warner family

Dear David, Shawn, Don, Charlene, Charlie, Peter & Ginny,
So sorry to learn of your Dad's passing. What a wonderful life he had! We always felt so welcome at 325 N. East Ave. I can't even begin to count the hours the McLauchlans & Buckinghams spent together! Several of my siblings and I are planning to be at the wake and look forward to seeing you. I know for us, when our Dad died, the blessing was that it brought us even closer together. I trust that you will find that to be the case, too. Catie

To All The McLauchlan's

I am so sorry for your loss. You are all so blessed to have each other and years and years of memories of your family. Those memories and all the stories you share will give you peace in the weeks to come. I have a very special place in my heart for Uncle D.A. and will miss him terribly. It must make you proud to know so many people loved and respected your Dad. I send my love to all of you and know you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Love Kathleen

Charlene and McLauchlan Family,

Our deepest sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sincerely,

Roger and Kris Swartzendruber

Dear Ginny,

I had to write to you as soon as I heard about your father. I am so sorry for your loss as I am sure this is a very difficult time for you.

I can remember as a teenager seeing your Dad once in a while during the many visits to your house and/or condo. The two of you always seemed to have a very special relationship. Very close and protective of each other. I didn't get to know your father real well
but he always came across so gentle and sincere. A man who's
presence filled the room. You undoubtedly have hundreds of memories that you will treasure for the rest of your days. I do hope those memories can give you a bit of peace and comfort as you grieve. I am very glad I got to see him again in Boynton Beach in the spring of 2001.

I will be thinking of you and the rest of your family in the coming
days as you return to Oak Park for the services. I am sending my
heartfelt condolences.

Love, Cathi C.

in lieu of flowers the family has designated a local Chicago charity as follows:

Here is information on the request for donations, in lieu of flowers, to Misericordia Homes in the name of my Dad. Mac's granddaughter Carolyn McLauchlan, is a long time resident of Misericordia. As they both had hand tremors, my Dad's tremors developing late in life, they called each other "shakey Jake", a family inside joke.
The family designation or family number at Misericordia is #1396A

Mailing address:
Misericordia/Heart of Mercy Center
Attn: Sister Rosemary Connelly
6300 North Ridge Avenue
Chicago, IL 60660-1099
Online donations:

Or you can make memorial donations online if you wish: misericordia.

Mr. McLauchlan was a man of quiet strength and comfort. He was a strong, kind man and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. I vividly remember sitting on his knee at the head of the kitchen table and he had his arms around me and told me that everything would be okay and that my Dad would come home from Vietnam. Thank you Mac. I love you.
Bess E

Charlene and Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. With deepest symapthy.

Charlene,

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Gene & Marsha Boomer

May God give you comfort through the days ahead and find comfort in the wonderful, full life he had. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I would like to express my deepest condolences for your loss and to let you know that your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Our sincerest condolences to the McLaughlan family.

My Dad lived a rich and full life - sadly for all of us, he passed away this last Saturday. I've uploaded a handfull of pictures that capture various points in my Dad's life. He told us near the end of his days that he was a lucky man to have been married to two wonderfull women - my mom (Virginia) for 31-years and my stepmother Elaine for 26-years. He also said he was the proud father of 7-loving children.

As you all know - my Dad was a passionate golfer. He was the club champion at Riverside Golf Club 9-times and he qualified for the United States Senior Amateur championship 3-times in the early 80's - making it to the final round of 16 at the 1985 tournament.

We would appreciate any notes that other friends and family would like to leave on this web site - please share you memories of any golf, business or party experiences etc over the years. We'll print them out to share with all of the family.

Thanks for all of your love and support as we celebrate my Dad's life.

Charlie McLauchlan