Donald “Don” Ermando Evischi of Centralia, age 82, passed away August 27, 2021, at the Marion VA. Don honorably served in the United States Navy from 1957 – 1960 and lived in Salem, Centralia, and Wamac most of his life. He attended Centralia Schools and retired as an insurance salesman. Don was an active member of the Centralia Elks Club. His greatest passion in life was when he and Sandra Lou followed Tony’s sports career from T-ball through Jr. College baseball, where Tony excelled in all sports especially baseball and football. Don continued his love of the game by watching all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with their activities, be it baseball, softball, cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, tennis or whatever they were involved in, he was always there. Don loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals, playing golf, poker, and riding his Harley motorcycle with family and friends. He and Sandra always had a large garden with the best tomatoes around, that he shared with everyone! Don loved to be around people and never met a stranger. He gave us all many laughs and stories over the years with his card tricks and his remarkable witty humor and managed to make everyone feel very loved.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 4, 2021, at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia with Chaplain Joannie Naraghi officiating. Interment will follow at the Zion Grove Cemetery in Kell, where military rites will be accorded by the Centralia VFW Post 2055 and American Legion Post 446. A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia. A meal will be served for family and friends, after the Zion Grove Cemetery service at the RAIL Coffee Room in Centralia, owned by his special niece Rae Ann and Chris Quidgeion. Memorials may be made in Don’s honor to Salem Little League or the Donor’s Choice. Online condolences and memories of Don may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page. Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia is privileged to be assisting the family of Don Evischi with arrangements.
Don is survived by his brother Jerry and Andrea Evischi of Centralia; sons Danny and Cindi Graham of Salem, Doug Graham of Springfield; daughter Jill Graham Hall of Houston, Texas; grandchildren Valerie and Mike Rolla, Danny and Mary Graham Jr., Kimberly and Matt Johnson and Brittni Hall; great-grandchildren Abbie Graham and Liam Thompson, Anthony, Anna, and Ashley Rolla, and Lydia and Caroline Johnson; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Donnie was loved dearly by his surviving significant other Sandra Nealy, her sons Doug and Eric Dearing, Matthew Nealy, and Brett Nollman; Sandra’s deceased daughter Dana Lamb; her 15 grandchildren; and her 14 great-grandchildren.
He was born in Centralia, Illinois on August 3, 1939, the son of the late Elda Wright Evischi and Ermando Ugo Evischi. He married Sandra Lou Goddard on January 12, 1974, who preceded him in death on October 5, 1992. Along with his wife, Sandra, and his parents, Don was preceded in death by his son Anthony Ermando Evischi; and a great-great-grandson Carson Thompson.
