Donald Paul Bedell, Ph.D., 92, of Belleville, IL, born October 9, 1932, in Belleville, IL, died Thursday, June 12, 2025, at Dammert Care Center, Belleville, IL.
Donald attended St. Luke Grade School and graduated from Cathedral High School. After high school, he earned two initial degrees: a Bachelor and Master of Science (1954, 1955) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and he then began his career as a chemical engineer at Shell Oil Refinery. Later he continued his academic pursuits earning an MBA (1960) and a Ph.D in Business Administration (1966) from Saint Louis University. During the time of earning his business degrees he held various academic positions at Saint Louis University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He taught engineering courses at Saint Louis University, where he served as Assistant to the Dean and Assistant in Engineering at the Institute of Technology, and taught accounting at both Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Saint Louis University. From 1972 to 1997, Dr. Bedell was a Professor of Accounting at Saint Louis University’s School of Business, retiring as a Professor Emeritus in 1997. From 1960 to 1998, he also practiced as a Certified Public Accountant.
Donald had also served in the United States Army (artillery) and was a member of numerous professional organizations and honor societies. He was an avid reader of theology, quantum mechanics, and psychology, and always enjoyed a relaxed round of golf. When his children were younger Disney World was his favorite vacation destination and later he relished a family vacation in Destin, FL. He also enjoyed spending time with friends, whether camping trips with several families or treasured time with his card group of about 60 years: Ken, Jim, Mel, Les, Jim, and Chuck.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Cyril M. and Elizabeth M., nee Millmann, Bedel; and a sister, Mary Ann (Eugene) Hausmann.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Kathryn A., nee Leber, Bedell, whom he married in 1963, at Holy Childhood Catholic Church, Mascoutah, IL; three sons, Dr. Michael (Susanne) Bedell, Gregory (Caron) Bedell, and Steven (Jennifer) Bedell; ten grandchildren, Christopher Borba, Alexis (Harry) Greenhouse, Jake (Krystal), Grace, Owen, Tara, Kayla, Sydney, Amelia, and Colin Bedell; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Martha O’Connor, Quentin and Nancy Leber, and Ronald and JoAnn Knights; and five nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catholic Urban Programs www.catholicurbanprograms.org, Saint Louis University Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business Annual Fund https://engage.slu.edu, or St. Vincent de Paul Blessed Sacrament Conference of Belleville IL https://svdpsouthil.org. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. Jack McEvilly officiating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
