Donald R. Kearns

KEARNS, NEUENDORF, HINES, BAKKEN, GROBE, SCHUSTER

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 12/12/2010 at 16:34:05

Donald Richard Kearns, 85, of Independence, formerly of Jesup, died Friday, Dec. 11, at Buchanan County Health Care Center in Independence of cancer.

He was born Aug. 14, 1925, in Luray, Mo., son of Virgil A. and Katy Neuendorf Kearns. He married Willa Mae Hines Nov. 17, 1946, in Kahoka, Mo. She died Dec. 4, 2005.

Mr. Kearns graduated from Wyaconda High School in 1947. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was a part of three invasions, Leyte Island, Philippines; Luzon; and Okinawa. He made two runs to Italy with Merchant Marine ships serving as a gunner. He was honorably discharged Aug. 15, 1946. He served in the Korean War on Treasure Island in California from 1951-52. Mr. Kearns worked at John Deere Tractor Works for 36 years from 1946-82. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Jesup.

Survived by: two sons, Bob (Sue) of Mountain Home, Ark., and Keith (Lavonne) of Cedar Falls; two daughters, Cindy (Roger) Bakken of Waterloo and Carolyn (Lynn) Grobe of Oakland; seven grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by: three brothers, Gary, Virgil and William A.; and two sisters, Helen Schuster and Donna Jean Kearns.

Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, Jesup. Military Honors accorded by Pump-Scheer American Legion Post 342 of Jesup.

Graveside services 1 p.m. Wednesday at Wyaconda Cemetery, Wyaconda, Mo.

Public visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church in Jesup. Kearns, Huisman-Schumacher Chapel, Waterloo, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials: may be directed to American Heart Association, 1111 Ninth St., Suite 280, Des Moines, IA 50314.