Tratchel, Donald Vernon 1914-2013

TRATCHEL, RYAN, KELLY, DELONG, SORENSON, STEIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/1/2015 at 08:54:01

Donald Vernon Tratchel
Newton, IA
Sep 11, 1914 - Oct 7, 2013

Donald Vernon Tratchel, 99, of Newton, died on Monday, October 7, 2013, at Careage of Newton. A private family service was held at Newton Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Courthouse Christmas Tree Lighting Fund, Progress Industries, or the Donor’s Choice may be left at the Wallace Family Funeral Home.

Donald, the son of William Warren and Elsie Edith (Ryan) Tratchel, was born on September 11, 1914 in rural Kellogg, Iowa. He graduated from Newton High School in 1934. Donald served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII as an Aviation Engineer.

Donald was united in marriage with Anne Eileen Kelly on October 27, 1938 in Newton. He had worked in auto body repair for 20 years and then at the Maytag Company for 30 years, retiring in 1980. At the Maytag Company he worked as a tool and die inspector and as a supervisor for the last 10 years. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and hunting. While in the service and later as a hunter Donald was an expert marksman.

Those left to honor Donald’s memory are his two daughters, Patricia Anne Tratchel of Newton and Donna Vee DeLong of Newton; three grandchildren, Kelly (Doug) Sorenson of Newton, Tess (Mitch) Stein of Des Moines, and Ben (Courtney) DeLong of Des Moines; his two great-grandchildren, Sebastian and Ryanne Sorenson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Anne in 2002; 3 brothers; and 3 sisters. ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 7 Oct 2013.