Gilkerson, Donald Ivas 1927-2001

GILKERSON, LYON, COLVIN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/10/2005 at 21:53:02

BUSSEY - Donald Ivas Gilkerson, 73, of Bussey, died Monday, May 7, at Knoxville Area Community Hospital.

His funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Knoxville. Burial: Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Friends may call at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville after noon today, with family present 6:30-8:30 p.m. today. Memorials: First United Methodist Church in Knoxville, or Twin Cedars Dollars for Scholars.

Donald Ivas Gilkerson was born Sept. 8, 1927, in Woodbine, to Mary Lyon and Charles Ivas Gilkerson. He graduated from Magnolia High School in 1945. He served in the United States Army during World War II.

On May 31, 1953, he married Billie Bernice Colvin in Carson. After his discharge from the Army, he earned his bachelor of science from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, his master's degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and his specialist degree from the University of Iowa in 1957. At that time he was the youngest superintendent in the state of Iowa. He worked in education for 39 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent for 35 of those years throughout Iowa. He retired in 1991 after working 15 years as superintendent of Twin Cedars Schools.

For many years he also farmed. He loved the outdoors, including hunting and fishing. He and his family took fishing trips to Eagle Lake on Ontario, Canada for 36 years. Since his retirement, he and his wife had spent the past seven winters in Mesa, Ariz. Last summer they took Don's dream trip touring Canada and Alaska. Don was a member of First United Methodist Church in Knoxville, and was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Billie, of rural Bussey; a daughter and son-in-law: Marcea and Rob Reuther of Orland Park, Ill.; two sons and daughters-in-law: Steven and Lisa Gilkerson of Albia, and Edward and Marlene Gilkerson of Columbia; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Inez Colvin of Carson; and three sisters and a brother-in-law: Doris Sutton of Lakewood, Colo., Mary Jean and Joe Jessen of Mapleton, and Dorothy Jessen of Schleswig; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law, Eldon Colvin; and two brothers-in-law Richard Sutton and Charles Jessen.

The Oskaloosa Herald, May 9, 2001