Longtime local business owners Don and Deanna Witzel are retiring from McDonald’s after over 40 years with the company. The Danville couple has owned stores in Vermilion County for over 25 years and more recently added a Covington, Indiana location.
Blake Linders from Effingham purchased all seven local McDonald’s locations. The sale will be final on August 14, 2024.
"The hardest part about retiring is leaving our wonderful 420 employees," says Don. "Many of them have been with us all 25 years. We are so thankful for all of them - we couldn't have done the things we did without them. We will miss working with them very much! And we are so appreciative of all our customers who we’ve loved serving and for their support of our family business.”
The Witzels will continue to live in Danville and stay highly involved in the Vermilion County community. “I will stay involved in leading Step-Up Vermilion County, a local non-profit that focuses on rallying, relating and resourcing to help meet Vermilion County’s needs,” says Deanna. “I’ll also remain active in Vermilion Advantage and the Vermilion Housing Authority. Don and I will stay involved in our church, volunteering and helping our children and people in the community.”
The Beginning
Don started at McDonald’s as a crew member in 1980 in Las Vegas, NV. Deanna started at McDonald's as a crew member in 1982 in Peoria, IL and transferred to Las Vegas McDonald's in 1987, where she met Don.
Just over 25 years ago, on July 1, 1999, they purchased four restaurants in Vermilion County—two in Danville, one in Hoopeston and one in Oakwood. Since then, they have opened locations in Georgetown, Main and Bowman in Danville and Covington.
Looking Ahead
“I’ve done almost everything in life I’ve wanted to do,” says Deanna. “Now I’m looking forward to helping others. My passion now is to help make dreams come true for other people and our community. Don plans a simpler, more relaxed life - gardening and spending time at our family cabin. We also plan to do more traveling.”
Don and Deanna are especially looking forward to spending more time with their children – Rob and Halley Witzel and Katie and Jason Spencer, all of Danville. They say the best part of retirement will include extra time with grandchildren Parker, 2 ½, Ellie, 18 months and a second granddaughter due early December. “They are the light of our lives!” adds Don.
