ALTER, Donald Eugene, 1931-1999

ALTER, LEE, BROCKWAY, LEYDEN, VAUGHN, LEE, MIKSCH, SPARROW, KNAPP, STEFFENS, PETERSON, DAVISON, STARK

Posted By: Betty Hootman (email)
Date: 2/21/2012 at 21:45:06

Mount Pleasant News
Friday, September 17, 1999

Donald E. Alter

Donald E. Alter, 68, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa died at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant. Surrounded by family and friends, he surrendered to life eternal after a year long battle against a brain tumor.

A memorial service for Mr. Alter will be Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999, at 2:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant with the Rev. Jeff McPheron officiating. Inurnment will be on Monday at Forest Home Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and following the Masonic Service that evening until 8:30 p.m. The Masonic Service will begin at 6:30 p.m. Memorials have been established to the Trenton Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church, and Hospice of Henry County.

Don was born August 6, 1931 in Burlington, Iowa, the third son of Ralph Edgar and Virginia (Lee) Alter. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1949 and began a 46 year career in the building and construction industry. For 37 years he was with Carl A. Nelson & Company and had been a construction superintendent for more than 25 years when he retired in 1996.

Married June 30, 1950 to Sandra Brockway in Burlington, Iowa, he moved his growing family to Mt. Pleasant in 1956 to be closer to many of the projects he worked on including the First United Methodist Church, ST Hall, the Adam Treischman Science Hall and Hersey Hall at Iowa Wesleyan College. From 1962-1970, Don and Sandy worked together as Alter Building Service before returning to Carl A. Nelson & Company.

Don was an active member of the Mt. Pleasant Jaycees from 1956-1967, serving as the chairman of many committees and also as Vice-President and President. He was elected as a State Vice-President of the Jaycees and received the local chapter's Distinguished Service Award in 1962. Additionally, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church and later attended the Trenton Methodist Church. He was also a past member of the Mt. Pleasant Kiwanis Club and the Mt. Pleasant Planning and Zoning Board. For a time he was a member of the Henry County Saddle Club and helped build the Tom Taylor Arena at MacMillan Park. He was a strong supporter of MPCHS athletics, a member of the Goaline Club. He never missed a football game, basketball game or wrestling match when his children were in school. Never one to rest in any stage of life, he and Sandy raised Shetland sheepdogs. He worked with local 4-H Clubs teaching dog obedience training and showmanship classes. When work took him out of the area in the 80's and 90's, he and Sandy made their home in RV campgrounds. They made friends out of strangers wherever they went. They were members of the Northland Travelers Club.

Retiring to Paradise Valley RV Resort in Sun City, AZ., in 1996, he became a hit as a member of the "kitchen" band, a bit player in local theater productions and a friend to all. He enjoyed country music and watching NASCAR races, particularly Jeff Gordon.

Don returned to Mt. Pleasant in spring 1998 after the death of his wife Sandy. Alone, but filled with a tremendous love of life, he was fortunate to find a special lady, Marilyn Leyden, with who he found second love. He was stricken with illness shortly thereafter. Yet, they married on October 28, 1998, by pledging their love through sickness and health. They moved together to a home he had built many years before, on a street that bore his name. The street was a "dead end" but also a new beginning as a return to home, friends, and family.

He is survived by wife Marilyn and five children: Penny (Jeff) Vaughan of Iowa City; Wendy (Mark) Lee of Batavia, IL.; Scott (Kathy) of Iowa City; Terri (Evr) Miksch of Mt. Pleasant; and Brock (Linda Laine) of Hastings, MN. Also 17 grandchildren including Joshua, Katie, and Ginny Sparrow, of Mt. Pleasant and 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by Marilyn's three children Kim (Jim) Knapp of Burlington; Kent (Julie) Leydens of Dubuque; and Barbara (Dave) Steffens of Mt. Pleasant, Marilyn's 7 grandchildren survive as well. Other survivors include brother Bill (Norma) Alter of Burlington; Harold Alter of Redlands, CA; former son-in-law Rick Sparrow of Mt. Pleasant; sister-in-law Carolyn Petersen of Boston, MA; and sister-in-law Linda (Danny) Davison of Bryan, TX; nieces, nephews, and many cousins. Also left to mourn are special friends, Greg and Peg Stark of Cedar Rapids, IA who were like his children.