Donald Hovey, 86

May 17, 1932 —

Feb. 7, 2019

 

CRESCO - Donald Freman Hovey, age 86 of Cresco, Iowa passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. 

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cresco. Visitation with the family will before the service from 9-11 a.m. at the church. 

Don was born on May 17, 1932 in rural Lime Springs, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Gladys (Walker) Hovey. He was baptized at Saetersdal Lutheran Church of rural Harmony, Minn. and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Cresco. 

He attended country school and attended Cresco High School. He entered the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 23, 1951 at age 19 with Basic Training at Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, Texas. On Dec. 20, 1952 he got on the USMS General MC MIEGS in California and headed for Yokohama, Japan arriving on Jan. 5, 1953. He spent the next two years between Japan and Korea and Greenland. He was released as Sargent on Active Duty on Aug. 22, 1955 and spent another four years in the Reserves. 

He met Marlys Jean Dewater in Waterloo, Iowa, where they both worked at Rath Packing Company. They were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa on Feb. 4, 1956. Their daughter, Debra Jean, was born on Dec. 10, 1956. They lived in Waterloo, Evansdale and Washburn, Iowa until 1961, then moved to Hutchinson, Kan. In 1962, they moved to Cresco, where they remained. 

Don was employed in Decorah, Iowa from 1962-1965. He began working at Donaldson Company in Cresco in 1965, until he “filtered out” in retirement on June 30, 1997. 

He was the member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco, the UAW Local 120 and VFW Post 4561 and volunteered with various community activities, especially HoCA, of which Marlys was the founder. The past couple of years kept him busy helping care for George Ratcliff.

Don will be remembered for his pranks, jokes and hugs. Everyone he met became a forever friend. He enjoyed his daily cruises around town visiting with everyone he met and garage sales and thrift stores, always finding a treasure for Kris and others. He loved old cars and tractors. 

He was a gentle and fun loving man who will be greatly missed. 

Don is survived by his daughter, Debra Hovey (George Ratcliff); granddaughter, Kelsey (Matty) Schumacher; sisters, Sadie (Vince) Thraenert, Janice Peter and Charlotte (Ken) Hebrink; and brothers, Harold Hovey and Harry (Madeline) Hovey. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlys in 2007; his parents, Clarence and Gladys Hovey; brother, Orval Hovey; and sisters, Helen Dotzler and Darlene Bakken.