It is with deep sadness that we write of the passing of Bob McDonell, 87, of Wheaton, Illinois, on April 19, 2025. Bob passed away peacefully in his sleep, after a brief hospitalization and hospice admission. Even in our grief, we rejoice that he is fully alive and with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Bob was born in Aurora, Illinois on March 10, 1938, to Gordon and Irene (Kees) McDonell of Wheaton, Illinois. He attended St. Michael Parish School in Wheaton as a child, and Wheaton became his lifelong home. He graduated high school at Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois and attended Saint Joseph's College in Renssalaer, Indiana.  As a teenager, he worked as a caddy at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton and later at Wheaton Hardware, which happened to be across the street from Wheaton Restaurant, where he met his first wife Eunice "Dee" Petersan, who worked there as a waitress.

Bob and Dee were married in 1959. After working for a short time selling used cars, Bob continued his career in sales as a building products representative for National Gypsum Company, where he worked for 18 years. In 1978, Bob and Dee became ServiceMaster franchise owners and went on to provide small business support and mentoring for ServiceMaster franchises in Illinois and Nebraska for the next 18 years. Bob spent the final phase of his career working out of the ServiceMaster corporate office in Memphis, Tennessee, managing vendors and products. Bob retired at age 75 after 36 years with ServiceMaster and treasured the many lifelong friendships that were cultivated during that time.

As a young man, Bob served as president of the Wheaton Jaycees and went door-to-door raising money to help build what is now Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) from what had been a tuberculosis sanatorium. After he retired, Bob volunteered in the emergency room at CDH, once again serving his community in a way that was very meaningful to him. Bob also served on the board of Wheaton Christian Grammar School, where his children and several of his grandchildren attended. Bob and Dee began attending Wheaton Bible Church in 1960, where he became a devoted member and active volunteer all his life. He taught children's classes for 35 years and served for many years on the parking team and as a front desk attendant on weekday evenings.

Bob and Dee raised three children (Kathi, Andy, and Kevin). Tragically, Dee passed away in a car accident in 1992. Several years later at church, Bob met Brenda Rowell, a widow with two sons (Andy and Brad). Bob and Brenda were married in 1996, and soon there was a loving, rapidly growing, blended family. Bob and Brenda developed an exceptional group of close friends at church, with whom they enjoyed many activities and several memorable trips overseas.

Bob was a hobbyist beekeeper for 50 years. He managed as many as 45 hives, assisted by his son Kevin. Annual honey harvest and bottling became a fun and cherished family activity, and many friends and family enjoyed the rich, pure, local honey produced by "Beekeeper Bob" and Mac's Backyard Bees. Bob even had a child-sized beekeeper suit for his grandchildren when they were little so they could help. He attended beekeeper conferences and contributed content to beekeeper publications. Bob was concerned about the challenges faced by bees in recent decades and was honored to serve on the board of the Pollinator Stewardship Council, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect bees and the ecosystems they sustain from the harmful effects of pesticides.

Bob was a devoted lifelong Chicago White Sox baseball fan and a Nebraska Cornhusker football season ticket holder for some great years in the 1990s. He had a favorite fishing spot on the Wolf River in Wisconsin and knew just the right time when he and his sons could bring in a huge haul.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 28 years, Brenda Rowell McDonell, who, along with their family, celebrates the profound love and life they shared. He is lovingly remembered by his daughter Kathi (Joe) Valentino; daughter-in-law Susan (the late Andy) McDonell and their children Grif, Morgan, Hale, and Seamus McDonell; son Kevin (Patti) McDonell and their children Jessica (Collin) Lehrian, Kent (Ellen), Steven (Anna), and David (Brianna) McDonell; son Andy (Amy) Rowell and their children Ryan, Jacob, and Allie; and son Brad (Nicole) Rowell and their children Jackson (Meghan) and Lilly.

Bob's legacy lives on through his cherished great-grandchildren: Kaladin, Ezran, and Caleb McDonell. He is also survived by his sister Leslie (John) Martinez, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family members who will continue to honor his memory.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Dee McDonell, his son Andy McDonell, and his sister Maribeth McDonell.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Avenue, West Chicago, IL 60185, preceded by a Visitation from 12:00 - 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow. The service will be livestreamed beginning at 2:00 pm Central Time through this link: Memorial Service for Bob McDonell . A Graveside Service will be held on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 10:30 am at Groveland Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery at 5324 E Queenwood Road, Groveland, IL 61535.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if you would consider a donation in Bob's memory to the ministry of Wheaton Bible Church ( https://wheatonbible.org/give/ ), the Covenant Living at Windsor Park Benevolent Care Fund ( https://www.covliving.org/contact-us/donation ), or the Pollinator Stewardship Council ( https://donate.stripe.com/cN29BKera02t59e6op ).