Donald W. Marner, 03 Apr 1922 - 30 Oct 2013

MARNER MILLER, HOBBS, COOK, KING

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 12/19/2013 at 14:48:36

Marner, Donald W.
Donald W. Marner

Donald W. Marner, 91, longtime resident of Iowa City, died Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, at the Mercy Iowa City Hospice Unit. He chose to stop antibiotics and procedures and end his life on his own terms.

A Celebration of Don’s Life is planned for Friday, Nov. 8, at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. (Sunday parking will be available only on Jefferson Street.) The family will greet friends Thursday, Nov. 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City. Inurnment of cremains will be in the Rose Garden at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City.

Instead of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to First United Methodist Church, Mercy Hospice or Iowa City Hospice.

Don was born April 3, 1922, on the family farm in Parnell, Iowa, the son of Gideon G. and Fannie (Miller) Marner, growing up on the family farm. He was the youngest child and had five brothers and one sister. Don enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force on Nov. 2, 1942, and served with the 357th Fighter Group in England and later Nuremberg, Germany as occupation forces until April 3, 1946. Don was proud to serve in the same squadron as Chuck Yeager.

Don returned home and soon found himself as a mechanic and later the service manager at Nall Motors Chevy dealership. In 1952, he began selling cars at Nalls and later Old Capitol Motors until 1986. Don was proud of selling 7,000 cars. Instead of retiring, Don started his own car detail business that continued through 2010 with the help of his son, Steve. He detailed 7,000 cars to match the number of cars he sold. Don made many friends and loved to talk with visitors while he continued to detail a car. Don lived on Wilson Street for 62 years and was loved by his neighbors who elected him mayor of Morningside.

Don met and later married Marilyn Hobbs on Nov. 5, 1946, at The Little Brown Church in Nashua. They were married for 64 ½ years and had two children, Steve and Gail, and many dogs over the years.

Don was a member of First United Methodist Church, Chevrolet Legion of Leaders, and the Lone Tree American Legion.

Survivors include his children, Steven Marner (Joyce) of Solon and Gail Cook of Seattle, Wash.; grandchildren, Jack, Helen and Callie; and great-grandchild, Cole. Don has many close surviving nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn, on June 14, 2011; brothers, Vernon, Willard, Maynard, Walter and Max; and a sister, Mary King.

The family would like to thank Dennis Gordon, Pete Sidwell, his friends and neighbors on Wilson and Morningside, Mercy Hospice, and Don’s caregivers and friends, especially his tablemates, Ken and Dillion, at Lantern Park.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.

Published Nov. 1, 2013 in The Gazette