Born: Dec. 14, 1925Died: Oct. 17, 2011SOUTH ELGIN – Donald Erwin Bone, 85, of South Elgin, passed away peacefully at his home, located in the Heritage Woods community in South Elgin, on Oct. 17, 2011. He was born on Dec. 14, 1925, in Chicago, the son of Benjamin and Amelia (Bartelts) Bone.Don was a veteran and served in the U.S. Army. He was supposed to be shipped with his unit to fight the Battle of the Bulge but broke his shoulder while playing football on the base and instead went to the Philippines with the 105 MM Howitzer Field Artillery.Don lived in Silvas as a small child, and then his mother moved his whole family to Elgin. As a young teenager, he worked at a Hudson Car Dealership, washing cars and driving them between Elgin and Woodstock. He also worked at the Grove Theater as an usher, where he met the love of his life, Dorothy Robbins, whom he married at St. John's Lutheran Church on July 25, 1944. After returning from the service, they lived in Elgin for two years and then moved to South Elgin. Don became an active member of the South Elgin community, where he was a village board member and helped form the South Elgin Business Association becoming known as "Mr. S.E.B.A."He was employed with Northern Illinois Gas for more than 40 years prior to his retirement. He was an active member of the South Elgin Lions Club for over 40 years, a 66-year member and past commander of American Legion Post #57, and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Elgin.Survivors include his two children, Pamela (Mark) Benson of St. Charles and Gregory (Martha) Bone of Rochester, Minn.; two grandsons, Erik Benson and Ethan Bone; a sister, Betty Torok; a brother, George Bone; and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy, on Nov. 1, 2007; and three brothers, John, Bill and Robert Bone.Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21,at the Laird Funeral Home in Elgin, with the Rev. Hannibal Frederich officiating. Burial with honors will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and on Friday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.For more information, call 847-741-8800 or visit www.lairdfamilyfuneralservivces.com. Memorials may be made to the church, the American Legion or a charity of one's choice.