Darold L. Thorne

“I am not the richest, smartest or most talented person in the world, but I succeed because I keep going, and going, and going! 

                                                                                                                        ~ Sylvester Stallone 

Darold L. Thorne, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 on what would have been his beloved wife Marilyn’s 89th birthday, at Lightways Hospice Home in Joliet, IL.  What a heavenly reunion it must have been when these two saw each other again.  

Darold was born on June 4, 1935 in Chicago, IL, the son of the late Maxine Weigel.   Moving often in his childhood, he fortunately attended high school in Waterloo, Iowa, where he was destined to meet the love of his life, Marilyn (Vandaver).  These high school sweethearts were married on December 1, 1951 and spent the next 67 years together until Marilyn’s passing in 2018. 

Darold was an extremely hard worker who spent his life providing for his family.  He worked in many different professions gaining a breadth of knowledge and experiences.  Darold was a meat cutter by trade.  He and Marilyn owned and operated a butcher shop called The Meat Locker in St. Charles, Missouri.  Over the years, they also owned a donut shop called The Donut Den and an ice cream shop called The Clown Parlor, and managed a resort called Bittersweet Resort in Missouri.   Darold enjoyed talking to people and learning about other’s lives which was a gift to residents he spent time with while managing multiple senior living communities across several states.   

As an initiated member of the Masons and in every job Darold held, his leadership skills and strong work ethic were evident and he passed this philosophy on to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; they made him very proud.

Darold’s family would marvel at his amazing ability to vividly recall stories from long ago about longtime friends, fun adventures he had in his youth, and the many interesting encounters made while working in different places over the years.   He loved watching The Game Show Network, Fox News, and Netflix.  One of Darold’s favorite things to do was find and tell jokes to his great grandchildren.   Grandpa GG will probably be telling Grandma GG this joke when he sees her:  

What do they serve at birthday parties in heaven?

Angel food cake, of course!

He leaves to cherish his memory, daughter, Lorna (Brian) Lynch, and sons Gary (Lynn), and James Thorne.  Beloved grandfather to Amy (Kevin) Bab, Matthew (Melissa) Lynch, Julie Thorne, Christina (David) Maes, Jeanette (Tyler) Foley, and Jill (Donnie) Klover.    Admired great grandfather to Colin and Grace Bab, Charlotte and Chase Lynch, Mackenzie Kraus, Mason Foley, Raelynn and Frankie Klover.  He is also fondly remembered by in-laws Myrna (Norman) Carstensen, Beverly (Gene) Arnold, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is reunited in Heaven with his wife, Marilyn; mother, Maxine; brothers, Verne Thorne and Charles Thorne; daughter in law, Lynn Thorne, and son in law, Brian Lynch.

A memorial gathering honoring Darold will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, 5:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, 715 N. Carlton Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187.  Private interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 980 Graham Road, Florissant, MO 63033.