Donald Charles Illian

Rev. Donald Charles Illian, 83, of Cedar Falls entered the Church Triumphant on Sunday, June 13, 2021, after a two year battle with cancer.  He was born July 23, 1937, in Midland, SD, to Charles and Marie (Getz) Illian.  Upon graduation from Midland High School in the spring of 1955, he enrolled at Gale Institute of Minneapolis, MN, and became a railroad depot agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.  Every summer, thereafter, for six years Don would return to the Chicago area to serve as a relief agent for the CB&Q which provided him with the funds to further his education.  He, then, enrolled at Concordia College, Milwaukee, WI, and began studying to be a pastor.  While on his vicarage (internship) in Minneapolis in 1961 he met his future wife, Kathryn Ann Jensen. On January 26, 1963, they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA.  Upon graduation in 1964 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL, he was called to begin his ministry at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Barnes, KS.  In October 1966, he accepted a call to serve as missionary-at-large to Ankeny, Iowa.  Having established St. Paul Lutheran Church, (Missouri Synod) in Ankeny he continued as pastor until 1983.  In February 2017, he was invited back to preach at St. Paul for their 50 ^th anniversary.  In October 1983, he accepted a call to St. John Lutheran Church, Denver, IA, which he served until his retirement in 2002.  In retirement he served as Visitation Pastor for Immanuel Lutheran Church and for 11 years at Grace Lutheran Church of Waterloo.  During his ministry he also served 6 vacancies, was chairman of the Iowa District East Human Care Committee for 12 years, and chairman of the Denver Sunset Home Care and Concern Committee for 18 years.  Pastor Illian's most important purpose in life was sharing the Good News of Christ.  He was dearly loved by his wife, family and many others from his four congregations.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Gerald, who died at birth; his sister, Anita; his father and mother-in-law, Wolmer and Ruth Jensen; and his daughter-in-law, Maxine Denny Illian.  He is survived by his wife of 58 years; sons: Joel (Jeanne) of Burlington, Jonathan (Jackie) of Cedar Falls, and Joshua (Erin) of Eddy, TX; his 15 grandchildren: Amber Marie, John (Amber Dawn), Libby, Carly, Kade, Lainie, Alice, Asher, Jaeger, Izaiah, Hannah, Donner, Madison, Kaila and Eison; 2 great-grandchildren, Nathaniel and Ivy; his brother, James (Helen) of Colorado Springs, CO; and his brother-in-law, Eddie (Sondra) Jensen of Atlantic; and many nephews and nieces.

Pastor Illian's funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Cedar Falls with visitation the evening prior from 4-7:00 pm also at the church.  Burial will take place at Atlantic Cemetery of Atlantic, Iowa, at 12:30 pm on Monday, June 21, 2021.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Cedar Falls or to Cedar Valley Hospice.  Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.