Donald "Cookie" J. Piencak

Donald J. Piencak, 88, US Marine Corps Veteran of Lake Station, Indiana, and formerly of Hobart, Indiana, Cicero, Hickory Hills, Chicago Ridge and Chicago, Illinois went to the big casino in the sky on May 25, 2025. Don, better known as "Cookie" due to his time spent at Nabisco, grew up near 52nd and South Talman in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood. The product of a difficult upbringing, he joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17 - which he declared to be the best decision he ever made due to the lifetime of free medical care. Don lived his life the way that he wanted - charming the ladies, habitually gambling, seizing opportunities and making fast money. He was full of humor and the occasional scheme, quick witted and generous. He had a soft spot for animals and kept the birds and feral cat population near his home well fed. Don knew people wherever he went, and most would go above and beyond just for him - from Bailey's Discount Center who always gave him additional price cuts, to the girl at Walmart's self-checkout who would let him cut in line, scan his items and bag everything and especially to the kind woman at Rice Garden who would open her doors early if he came before 11am. He was a free-spirited hustler until the very end, brokering deals from his hospital bed and checking himself out of Hines VA when they recommended a nursing home. His mind remained sharp but his body was succumbing to age and illness. 

Two years prior to his death, he reconnected with his children and tried his best. Thirteen days before his death, while under hospice care at his daughter's home, he finally accept his reality. 

Donald is survived by his longtime companion Ida and former spouses Rosemary and Bonnie, both of whom he shared children with. Sons Don (Terri), David (Serena), Douglas (Mary) and daughter Heather (Shane). Stepchildren Thomas (Tami), Kendra, Susan, Diana and Stephen. Grandchildren Joshua, Shaunna (Dennis), Presley, Amanda (Luke), Avery and Aiden. Great-grandchildren Jillian, Connor, Emma and Maverick. Sister Dolores (John) and a host of nieces, nephew and associates.

Don was preceded in death by his beloved former spouse Doreen, cat Smoky, brother Paul and half brother Robert; and parents Paul Sr. and Anna.

Interment will be held Friday, May 30th at 10:00am at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL 60421

Memorable Words from Donald Piencak 

Hospice Nurse: "Don are you allergic to anything"?                                                                                                                                                                           Donald: "Yeah, alley cats"

Amanda (while conversing about his time as an aircraft mechanic in the USMC: "So you know a lot about airplanes..."            Donald: "I don't know sh*t about planes, that's why all the Marine ones crash" 

While explaining to his daughter how exactly he made his living , Donald said in a stern voice mixed with both pride and conviction: “I never stole from anyone. They always gave me their money willingly” 

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL