Donald E. Fike, a prominent figure in Galesburg’s health care community for more than four decades and renowned as the “Godfather” of the developmentally disabled for his passionate advocacy on their behalf, died Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at Manor Court of Peru. He was 78.
Building a Legacy in Galesburg Health Care
In 1988, Fike purchased land at the corner of North Seminary Street and East Carl Sandburg Drive in Galesburg and built a skilled nursing facility he called Seminary Manor. Over time, the property expanded to include independent living at Seminary Estates, assisted living at Hawthorne Inn, a Bounce Back rehab center, and even single-family homes and duplexes in the Villas.
Obituary: Donald E. Fike: June 11, 1947 ~ January 16, 2026
Fike spent roughly 30 years living in Galesburg, where he made significant contributions to residential programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 1979, he founded RFMS in Galesburg, a company that provided consultation and administrative services for more than 170 group homes and numerous senior care facilities across multiple states. Over the next 50 years, he developed the Liberty Village Campus concept and oversaw the construction of more than 30 modern, accessible senior care facilities in Illinois, Iowa, Florida, Nevada, and South Carolina.
According to his obituary, Fike life’s work has provided a home and services to over 6,000 individuals each day and job opportunities for over 5,500 employees daily.
Leadership and Advocacy
Fike was a licensed nursing home administrator in Illinois from 1980 to 2019 and served on the Illini State Bank board of directors since 2004, becoming owner and chairman in 2012. In 2013, he established the Donald E. Fike Family Foundation to support nonprofit organizations, a legacy that will continue for generations.
He was also a tireless advocate for fair housing, successfully challenging zoning restrictions that limited housing options for individuals with disabilities. In 1989, he took his message to the Today Show to push for changes to the Fair Housing Act.
Passion for Racing
For over 50 years, Don either raced, worked on, sponsored, or owned race cars. He developed a lifelong passion during his college years, assembling his first stock car. He drove at local tracks in Illinois, such as the Mazon Speedbowl, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. He continued his late-model driving career for many years and developed RFMS Racing in 1996. While operating RFMS Racing, he enjoyed considerable success with over 60 feature wins across the following series by his sons and other numerous drivers.
Fike is survived by his wife Misty (Landergren) Fike, children AJ (Katrina) Fike, Aaron (Cassandra) Fike, and Suzanne (Jared) Meeker, grandchildren Kylie, Lily, Emma, Milena, Dash, Jameson, and Goldie, sister Linda Kaszynski, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at Tonica United Methodist Church, with additional visitation Thursday at 10 a.m. until the time of services. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at the church. The service will be live-streamed via the Hurst Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Tonica.