Fraser, Donald Ray (1927-2006)

FRASER, WAMPLER, OSMUNDSON, OLSON, COULSON, PRUISMANN, GENRICH, BERKENES, ANDERSON, BRINKMAN

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 11/18/2014 at 15:45:59

Daily Freeman-Journal, Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, p.3

Donald Ray Fraser, 79, of Mesa, Arizona, entered into rest on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. He was born November 4, 1927, in Holmes, Iowa, to Morris E. and Edith M. (Wampler) Fraser, the youngest of six children. Donald served four years in the Navy from 1951 to 1955, during the Korean Conflict.

He was a graduate of Iowa State College, now Iowa State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in vocational Education with teaching credentials in agriculture, economics, biology, and chemistry. He received his Master of Science in Education Administration from Iowa State University. He took post graduate hours from Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and Drake University.

Donald first taught biology to sophomores at Ames High School in Ames, Iowa. He then taught vocational agriculture for three years in Latimer, Iowa. Donald taught vocational agriculture in Radcliff, Iowa for another three years, and then taught science for one year in Alexander, Iowa. Donald taught one year at Williams, Iowa, which is part of Northeast Hamilton School. He developed a program for Northeast Hamilton School in Blairsburg, Iowa, for children with learning disabilities, where he taught for another sixteen years.

Donald and Beverly Osmundson Olson were married in 1968. After retiring from teaching, Donald worked as a realtor in Iowa and Arizona. Donald and his wife Beverly, moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1987. They became members of the Victory Lutheran Church in 1990.

Donald is survived by Beverly, his loving wife of 38 years, one son Donald R. Fraser II of Dows, Iowa; two stepdaughters, Kristin Olson of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Kathy (Marlin) Pruismann of Blairsburg, Iowa; one stepson, Dennis Olson of Tucson, Arizona; and eight grandchildren, Heath Coulson, Ashley Pruismann, Andrea Pruismann, Alex Genrich, Daniel Fraser, and one great-grandson, Brandon Genrich; a brother, Emmett Fraser (Dorothy); sister, Phylliss Berkenes, both of Clarion, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his son Craig; two sister, Bernice Fraser Anderson and Maxine Fraser Brinkman; a brother, Glenn Fraser; and his parents.

A memorial service was held on Dec. 19, 2006, at Victory Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. A future service will be held in Clarion, Iowa in the spring of 2007.