Woman Killed In I-55 Dust Storm Crash Was Professional Singer

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Funeral services for a 71-year-old professional singer from Crystal Lake and her 73-year-old husband — both of whom were killed in a series of crashes during a downstate dust storm earlier in the week — will be held Thursday.

Donna Bates and Joseph Bates were among seven people killed in the collision that happened May 1 near Farmersville in Montgomery County. A visitation for the couple, who were married for 42 years, will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Davenport Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Avenue in Crystal Lake.

Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael's Orthodox Church, 7313 Waukegan Road in Niles. Burial, with military honors for Joseph Bates, will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, according to the couple's obituary.

Donna Bates began her singing career in 1969 with the Melodeers chorus of Sweet Adelines International. The Melodeers went on to win multiple international competitions.

In 1983, Donna joined the quartet, Melo-Edge. The group went on to become international champions and Donna was named a "Queen of Harmony," according to her obituary. She performed with Melo-Edge on three international cruises and the Phil Donahue Show.

She was also a master director and an instructor for the Sweet Adeline International Organization.

After graduating from high school, Joe served as a Marine in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1971 and moved up through the ranks to reach the rank of corporal. After his discharge from the armed services, he began pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University.

He began his career in Chicago with Bankers Life Casualty Insurance Company, where he met Donna, and the two were married in 1981, according to their obituary. Joseph continued working in the insurance field, being promoted over the years to the role of controller and vice president.

Meanwhile, funds are being raised to help cover the cost of the Crystal Lake residents' funeral. As of Wednesday, more than $9,300 has been brought in through a GoFundMe campaign set up by the couple's friend and family.

• The couple's GoFundMe can be found here.
  

"Joseph and Donna were beloved parents who dedicated their lives to their family and community. They were always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need and were loved by all who knew them," according to the GoFundMe. Any additional funds raised will be donated to the “Cornet Club” of Sweet Adeline’s International and the Gibson County Humane Society as a memorial to Joe and Donna.

The couple, according to their obituary, "had a big heart for animals and took their dogs on nightly walks."

In total, 72 vehicles were involved in the collision Monday and 37 people were sent to local hospitals. The seven people killed in the crash ranged in ages from 2 to 88 years old.

At a news conference on Tuesday, state police officials said that they were called to the scene just north of Farmersville, where troopers encountered the dust storm that made dealing with the scene more difficult.

“Certainly, dust storms happen," Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said Tuesday. “But it is not something that happens every day in this part of Illinois or in any part of Illinois. So, this is a very unusual set of circumstances.

“It’s simply a terrible, terrible tragedy. It was a terrible day in this part of the state for the families that were affected by this, and we will certainly continue to keep them at the center of our hearts. Our love goes out to them.”

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