Helene Donley of Union, IL passed suddenly on December 16th, 2025. She was born Helene Eales in a farm house in Hebron, Wisconsin on December 28, 1934 to Clayton and Katherine (Gleiter) Eales. At the beginning of World War II, her family moved to LaGrange, Illinois, where her parents worked at a war defense plant. Helene attended LaGrange Township High School. On May 19, 1951 she married Lawrence Donley of Berwyn, Illinois. Working hard at 2 jobs, she and Larry purchased their first home within 3 years. In 1958 they purchased a Pure Oil service station in Berwyn that they owned for the next 22 years. In 1962 Helene went back to school to learn emerging computer technology and worked at various companies including North American Rockwell and Polaroid. In 1974 the Donley family opened the Seven Acres Museum near Union, Illinois, where their extensive antiques collection was displayed. Seven Acres would evolve into Donley’s Wild West Town and became one of the largest privately owned tourist attractions in the State of Illinois. Helene served as President of L.C. Donley & Sons Amusement Enterprises, Inc. until her retirement in 2019. Her family states, “Helene was not President in name only. She ran all aspects of the operation. She WAS the company. Without her, the Wild West Town would never have achieved the growth and success that it did.“ Helene spent her final years relaxing, watching game shows, and working on her computer. On December 16th she had just returned from having her driver’s license renewed. She told her husband Larry that she wasn’t feeling well and was going to lie down when she suffered a fatal heart attack. Helene should be remembered as a loving mother and devoted spouse, a woman of great strength and determination with an unbelievable work ethic. She is survived by her husband of 74 years Larry, sons Michael (Kelley) Donley, Randall (Susan) Donley, and 3 grandchildren: Shawnah, Scott, and Shawn (Megan) Donley. Helene was preceded in death by her parents Clayton and Katherine, her sister Shirley, and daughter-in-law Christine. A private family burial is planned. Interment will be at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery in Palatine, IL. You are invited to share a memory of Helene online at: defiorefuneral.com
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
It is with great sadness that I read the words of her passing. I was employed by the Donley family as a cowboy at the Wild West Town for many years. She is truly missed by myself and all that knew her.
I’m sad to hear this. My condolences. I grew up at the museum and loved seeing her always.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Donley family at this difficult time . May you cherish all of the wonderful memories of her and her life 🥰🙏🏼
Truly, sorry for your loss. Especially at this time of year. I was a recipient of enjoying the Wild West Town for many years because of your mom, Randy! May the Lord bring you comfort and hope.
Randy and family, my most heartfelt condolences. My favorite local outing with my boys was Wild West Town. We had so many happy memories there. It’s just amazing to me that all these years later our paths crossed another way through dancing and came full circle to learn that the wonderful matriarch for those adventures and joyful times with my boys, was your mother, Helene. ❤️😇