Obituary of Donald Saul

Donald Harvey Saul, 60, of LaSalle, died Wednesday afternoon in his home from complications of leukemia. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe, 14567 S. Dixie Hwy. Don will lie in state from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Monroe Missionary Baptist Church, 14260 S. Dixie Hwy. with the funeral service to begin at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle. Born Oct. 18, 1953, in Monroe, he was the son of Harvey G. and Arlene (Kaper) Saul. He married Renee Duvall on Feb. 1, 1975, in Monroe. He was a 1971 graduate of Monroe High School. He earned an associate's degree from Monroe County Community College and a bachelor of science degree from Siena Heights University. Besides stints working at Bennett's Ambulance Service and Ford Motor Co., Monroe plant, Don spent his professional career with Mercy Memorial Hospital. He started in respiratory therapy and was a certified and registered respiratory therapist. He was instrumental in developing and launching Mercy Memorial's Home Respiratory Care program and served as its director from its inception in 1988 to 2008. He did consulting work and wrote articles about respiratory practices and home care that were published in professional journals, including RT, for respiratory care practitioners. He was an unwavering advocate for his patients and their care and comfort. He also served for many years as a Monroe County special deputy, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Idolized by his children and grandchildren, Don was respected by all who knew him. He grew up on and lived almost his entire life on the Saul family farm close to the relatives, familiar scenes and wild birds that he loved. Don is survived by his wife, Renee Saul; son, Matthew (Mona) of Chicago; 2 daughters, Michelle (John) Feaganes of LaSalle and Emily (Russell) Graham of Westfield, Ind.; grandchildren Mikaela, Malayna and Macie Saul; Payton, Ashton and Emersyn Graham, and Grace and Olivia Feaganes; a sister, Deborah Saul of LaSalle; 2 aunts, Ruth Kaper of Monroe and Jeanette Doom of LaSalle, and numerous cherished cousins and faithful friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, David William; his grandparents, Harvey J. and Martha Saul and Herman and Hulda Kaper; uncles William Kaper and Henry Doom and aunt Ludell Swan. For those who choose to do so, memorials may be made to Mercy Memorial Home Respiratory Care, Mercy Memorial Hospice or the Monroe Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund.