Donald A. Henss

Donald A. Henss, 79, former representative of the Illinois General Assembly and retired Deputy University Counsel for the University of Illinois, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, formerly of Moline, Illinois, died Saturday, June 12, 2010, in Memorial Hospital, Colorado Springs.

Services are 2:00 p.m. Sunday, June 27, 2010, at First Congregational Church, Moline, with The Reverends Allen Mothershed and Randy Heckman officiating. The family will greet friends at a gathering that will take place following the service at the church. Burial will be in Moline Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Cancer Research Institute, 1 Exchange Plaza, 55 Broadway, Suite 1802, New York, New York 10006. Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, is assisting the family.

Donald Allen Henss was born December 24, 1930, in Moline, the son of Paul and Geneva Aileen (Runkel) Henss. He attended Moline schools. He was an outstanding student and athlete at Moline High School, and was the #1 All-State quarterback in 1949. He was President of his class, President of the Student Congress, Homecoming King, and was a straight A student academically. He married Joline Schieberl on June 8, 1952, in Moline.

Don attended the University of Illinois, where he played football for the Fighting Illini. He played against Stanford in the 1952 Rose Bowl, which the Illini won 40-7. He graduated in 1953, and then from the University of Illinois Law School in 1955. He holds a bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Law, and a Juris Doctor degree in law.

Don was a practicing lawyer in private practice for many years before becoming the Assistant States Attorney for Rock Island County. He was a member of the General Assembly of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1967 until 1972. In July of 1972, Don resigned his position in the House of Representatives to accept an appointment as a member of the Pollution Control Board in Moline and Chicago, which he served until July of 1975. He accepted the University of Illinois law position as Associate University Counsel in 1977, working closely with the Legislative Office and preparing legislation for the University as Deputy University Counsel. He and his wife, Joline, retired to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1997.

Don was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Rock Island County Bar Association, where he served on the Legislation committee, Secretary of the Insurance Law section of the Illinois State Bar Association, and Arbitrator for the National Panel of Arbitrators with the American Arbitration Association.

He was a member of the board of directors for the Moline YMCA, Chairman of the Advance Gift division of the 1965 United Appeal, President of the Football M Men in 1965, and Secretary of the Citizens committee on Athletics for the Moline School system.

Don was a member of the House Education committee in the area of school legislation, Chairman for the Higher Education committee, was a member of the House committee on Pensions, Personnel and Veterans Affairs, and was appointed to the Pension Laws commission and the Executive Mansion Commission.

He was a member of the Illinois House Ethics in Government, manager of all bills presented by the Illinois Junior College Board, won the Outstanding Legislator award from the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, and was the chief sponsor of the Quad City Graduate Center. Governor Ogilvie sent Don to represent the State of Illinois to the State Department in Washington D.C. to a meeting regarding the conduct of the Vietnam War.
Don loved his dogs, mountains, and traveling. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joline; daughters and a son-in-law, Wendy and Dave Lester of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Kim Youngvorst of Carmel, Indiana; a son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Martha Henss of Champaign, Illinois; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Virginia Geis of Lombard, Illinois.

The family invites you to share stories and condolences and light a candle in Don?s memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.