DONALD JAMES "Red" TOBIN 1933-2006
NARMONTA, TOBIN, KNEESKERN, GREEN
Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/5/2006 at 13:10:04
Donald "Red" Tobin
Waukon Standard, April 5, 2006
Donald “Red” Tobin, 72, of Waukon, Iowa, died Thursday, March 30, 2006, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of Red’s life was held Monday, April 3, at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial with military rites was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was in charge of arrangements.
Donald James “Red” Tobin was born April 14, 1933, at his parents’ home in Waukon, Iowa. He was the son of William F. and Isabelle I. (Narmonta) Tobin. Red was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and attended St. Patrick’s School. During the Korean War, he served in the US Army from 1952 until 1955, spending one of his assignments with the 60th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion. He also completed his GED while in the service.
June 22, 1957, he married Betty Jean Kneeskern in Preston, Minn. Red had a number of careers. He did some work for the railroad on the tracks between Waukon and Waukon Junction, was an iron worker at a number of places across the country, was a meat cutter and salesman in Colorado, and did a lot of painting of houses and schools around northeast Iowa.
Red enjoyed being outdoors, particularly in the mountains when he was in Colorado, but also just on drives through the countryside. He was an avid card player and hard to beat at pinochle, an accomplished pool player, liked to golf, had a passion for chocolate, and enjoyed following basketball and baseball. Red also had a keen interest in history and enjoyed reading historical accounts. In spite of his wide variety of experiences, most of his favorite times were spent with his family, whether that be holding his grandchildren spellbound with stories of past experiences or the familiar routine of going out for breakfast with Betty.
Survivors include his wife Betty of Waukon; nine children, Jeanine Cogdill of Huntington, Texas, James Normann, Inez (Daryl) Cooper, Patricia (Patrick) O’Neill, and Kathy Tobin, all of Waukon, Lori (Stan) Johnson of Daytona Beach, Fla., Donnie (Laura) Tobin of La Crosse, Wis., Mike (Judy) Tobin of Cedar Rapids, and Lynn (Roger) Steffans of Postville; 25 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; a sister, Evelyn (Loren) Green of Clermont, Iowa; and six nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Gary Halverson; a sister, Dolores Tobin; and a brother, William Tobin.
Honorary casketbearers were his granddaughters, Trena Wilroy; Nichole Focht; Daniell’, Heather, and Kristina Normann; Nancy Hart; Betsy Cooper; Kelly Enyart; Kari Johnson; Morgan Tobin; Stephanie Cronin; and Jean Burrows. Casketbearers were his grandsons, Danny Halverson, Scott Hunter, Jim and Mike Normann, Jim Cooper, Ryan and Cory O’Neill, Donald and Dustin Tobin, Cody Cronin, Lee Richtsmeier, and James and Kyle Burrows.
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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