Davis, Donald D. "Red" (1931-2013)
DAVIS, SMITH, MERKLEY, NEPPL, JONES, ROBERTS
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/15/2013 at 10:16:08
Donald D. "Red" Davis
April 22, 1931 - October 26, 2013Storm Lake, Iowa
Donald D. “Red” Davis, age 82, of Storm Lake, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.
Don Davis was born on April 22, 1931, to Chester and Florence (Smith) Davis in Sac City, Iowa. He spent his youth on the family farm helping his father. Until his junior year, he attended school at Sac County Schools. At that time, the family moved to Schaller, Iowa.
After graduation, Don enlisted and served in the United States Air Force for four years. He spent one of those years in Korea where he served as a Flight Crew Chief. When one of his bombers did not return from its mission, he felt a great sense of loss.
Following his discharge, Don worked for Robinson Dairy. Later, he was employed by the United States Postal Service as a postal carrier in Storm Lake. Later, he became the Postmaster in Graettinger, Iowa. After retiring from the Postal Service in 1992, he returned to Storm Lake.
An avid sports fan, Don loved following the fortunes of the Green Bay Packers, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and all of the local teams. Indeed, he worked the chain gang for both the Storm Lake High School and Buena Vista University football teams. In 2003, he received the Roger Egland Team Appreciation Award for his many years of service. Both teams managed to run over him on the sidelines!
An active member of the Presbyterian Church, Don served as an usher and as a member of the Pastor Calling and Food for Life Committees. In addition, he helped with the children’s summer camp as well as in the dining room as needed.
On December 10, 1950, Don married Donna M. Merkley, also of Schaller. They were blessed with three children: D. Mark (Peggy) Davis, of Winthrop, Minnesota, Jody Neppl, of Fonda, Iowa, and Miles D. (Laurie) Davis, of Bellevue, Nebraska. He is also survived by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jamie (Britt) Davis, and son, Corey, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, Jeff (Lisa) Davis, and children, Megan and Mason, of Buffalo, Minnesota, Nate (Judy Erlandson) Jones, and children, Matthea, Tatum, and Grady, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Kim Neppl, and daughter, Hadleigh, of Fonda, Iowa, Jared (Iva) Neppl, and daughters, Kinsley and Kady, of Ankeny, Iowa, and Chandler and Matt Davis, of Bellevue, Nebraska; as well as by extended family members and friends.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Florence; his sister, Mary Ann Merkley; his mother-in-law, Gladys Roberts; and his son-in-law, Larry Neppl.
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