Heumphreus, Donald D. 1922-1988

HEUMPHREUS, WALKER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/30/2015 at 13:16:38

Hawarden Independent of July 7, 1988

Donald D. Heumphreus, 65, died June 24,1988, at Peterson. Services were held June 28, at 10 a.m., at Maple Grove Church of God. Donald D. Heumphreus, the son of Elijah D. and Hattie Mae Searle Heumphreus, was born October 18, 1922, at Hawarden. He graduated from Hawarden High School in 1941. He entered the service November 18, 1942 at Camp Dodge and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force with the 3213 Engineer Fire Fighting Company. He was an aerial gunner and his overseas duty was from July 27, 1944 until March 8,1945. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre and was involved in campaigns in Northern France, the Ardennes and the Rhineland. He flew 42 missions in a B17 and received the 8th Fighter Command Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. He received his Honorable Discharge September 28,1945 at Camp Haan, CA.

He was united in marriage to Wilma Elizabeth Walker July 25,1943, at Des Moines. They lived in Hawarden until 1965 when they moved to Hartley, where they lived for 11 years before moving to Rogers, AK. In 1984, they moved to Peterson, were they have lived until the present time. Mr. Heumphreus was a bulk agent for Standard Oil of Indiana for 23 years. He was an active member of the Methodist Church serving on the Board of Trustees and Head Usher. He was also a member of the Dean-Underwood Post of the American Legion in Peterson. Mr. Heumphreus was an avid fisherman and loved to camp.

Preceding him in death were his infant daughter and one brother, Ralph. Survivors include his wife, Wilma; one son, Garey and his wife, Pamela, of West Point, NY; two daughters and their husbands, Pain and Gary Klatt and Kim and Mike Gordon, of Peterson; six grandchildren; one sister, Colleen Walker, of Jefferson City, MO, along with other relatives and friends.