DURANT, Donald R, (1923-1977)

DURANT, PASKIN, JENSEN, PETERSON, JEFSON, VILMAIN

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 10/6/2025 at 21:13:23

Hold services for city employee

Services for Donald R. Durant, 53, an employee of the City of Forest City for the past 15 years, were held Monday afternoon at Immanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. Ole Winter and the Rev. John Hieronymus officiating.

Mr. Durant died Thursday at Forest City Community Hospital after a lengthy illness with cancer.

LeDonna Ree Durant, daughter of the deceased, served as soloist for the funeral services and was accompanied by Leonard Markusen. Norma Boomgarden was organist.

Casket bearers were John Vilmain, Floyd Jefson, Harland Carlson, Edward Sandvig, Lowell Pitkin and James Jefson. Honorary casket bearers were Roy Baack, Dean Lampker, Ted Overlie, Carroll Anderson, Curtis Peterson, C. D. Fox, Gene Gelner, Russell Durant, Darrell Larson and Lowell Paul.

Interment was at Madison township cemetery with the Olson-Petersen Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.

Donald Raymond Durant was born in Goldfield on Feb. 13, 1923, the son of Nels and Susan (Paskin) Jensen. At an early age, he was adopted by S. B. and Edith Durant and lived on a farm in Madison township. He received his education in the Madison township school and was graduated from Forest City high school in 1940.

He married Rexine Joyce Peterson on May 6, 1944, at the Little Brown church in Nashua and returned to farm with his father for several years. The couple then moved to a farm near Corwith and several years later returned to farm in Madison township until 1959.

In 1960, they moved to Forest City where he was employed with Peoples Natural Gas Company. In 1962, he began employment as an operating engineer with the Forest City municipal light plant, a position he held until his death. Mr. Durant had been a member of Immanuel Lutheran church and for several years has served as an usher for church services.

He is survived by his wife; two children, Leo Nels Durant of Las Vegas, Nev., and LeDonna Ree Durant of Forest City; a brother, Duane L. Durant of Dallas, Tex.; two sisters, Velma, Mrs. Lyle Jefson of Forest City, and Mildred, Mrs. George Vilmain of Eagle Grove; and several other relatives.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Sue, in 1947, his parents and a sister, Evelyn.

source: Summit, Forest City, Iowa, 3 Feb 1977, page B4, column 3