Donald Dean Abney, 95, of Salem, Illinois, passed away at Helia Healthcare of Salem on April 26, 2026.
He is survived by his wife, Janice Abney of Salem, Illinois, son Michael (Teresa) Abney of Camby, Indiana; his grandchildren, Chris (Kim) Abney of Georgetown, Indiana; Dustin (Savannah) Abney of Mooresville, Indiana; David (Shannon) Abney of Kokomo, Indiana; Brittney (Stan) Rice of Bryan, Ohio; Shelly (Dj) Anton of Oxford, Indiana; many nieces and nephews and 16 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Mildred Abney; his brothers, Ronald Roudebush, Harold Abney, and Joseph Abney; his children, Sherry Abney, David Abney, and Patrick Abney; and his grandchildren, Kenneth Abney and Jeremy Abney.
Donald was born May 25, 1930, to Jack and Mildred Abney in Kokomo, Indiana. He joined the army as a young man and would deploy to Korea. He served from 1946 to 1949. He proudly wore his Korean veteran hat. Once he returned and fulfilled his time with the army, he would marry Joanne Mooney, of Kokomo, Indiana, and would become a father to his 4 children, Sherry, Michael, Patrick, and David. However, that marriage would end in divorce.
In 1963, he found himself in Denver, Colorado, where he would meet a lovely woman named Janice Cyprian of Ft. Morgan, Colorado. They began their relationship soon after and would get engaged in September of 1964. On January 18, 1966, they married in Ft Morgan, Colorado, and would go on to celebrate 60 years of marriage.
He worked as a supervisor for World Color Press Salem Gravure in Salem, Illinois. He retired in 1991. This company blessed him with many years of service and memories that he would recount over the years.
During his many years, he found great fun in playing golf, tennis, going fishing, spending time with his family, attending church, coffee mornings with his buddies, nightly phone calls that would only last a minute or two, watching his westerns or his sports teams: IU basketball, St Louis Cardinals, and the Oakland Raiders.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Donald Abney will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church with Father Jose Jacob officiating. Burial will follow at East Lawn Cemetery in Salem with military rites by the Salem American Legion. There will be a visitation at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions can be made to Honor Flight Network or the St. Theresa Catholic Church parking lot fund. They will be received at the church or at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem who is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences and memories can be left at www.CrouseFH.com.
