The son of a mortician, Paul E. Toon grew up learning the family business. As a boy he did small tasks assisting his parents with families and later on was given major responsibilities.
“He learned so much from helping people and providing them with comfort through some of the most difficult times in their lives,” said his daughter Nancy. “He dealt with sickness and death. He developed a genuine interest in others that only became stronger as time went on.”
Mr. Toon, 68, of Lisle, owner of Toon Funeral Homes in Downers Grove and Westmont, died Monday, Oct. 24, in RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale of complications related to recent surgery.
Born in Hinsdale, Mr. Toon grew up in Downers Grove, where his late parents, Dewey and Ina, founded Toon Funeral Home on Main Street in 1929. When Mr. Toon was 12, his father died, leaving the business to his mother and uncle.
“He took on a lot more chores after that, helping out whenever he could,” said his daughter.
After graduating from Downers Grove High School, Mr. Toon went on to study business at Eureka College. In the mid-1950s, he became a funeral director and joined the family business.
“There was never any question he would follow in his parents’ footsteps,” said his daughter. “Being a funeral home director was something he had prepared for all his life, and he was very good at it.”
Over the years, Mr. Toon worked diligently to build a reputation in the community based on honesty and trust, family members said.
“He took the time and went to great lengths to provide comfort and support for every family that stepped through his door,” said Jon Dames, manager of Toon Funeral Homes. “He was very compassionate and sensitive. He never lost sight of the fact that even though death was something he dealt with every day, it wasn’t the same for most people.”
“He was a role model for me early on in my career,” said Joseph Ewald, a funeral director for Oehler Funeral Home in Des Plaines, who worked as an apprentice at Toon Funeral Home 23 years ago.
“I was right out of college, green as could be, and Paul took me under his wing. He taught me how to be a good funeral director, but he also showed me how to be a better human being. He reached out to the community, helping people whether they had a death in the family or not.”
Other survivors include his wife, Jerri MacLeod-Toon; two sisters, Barbara McGowan and Betty Roe; two stepdaughters, Sandra Elstner and Bonnie Elsner; and two stepgrandchildren.
Services will be held at noon Saturday in First United Methodist Church, 1032 Maple Ave., Downers Grove.
