Donald Faas (1934-2009)
FAAS, HINRICHS, SHAW, HART, PRUESS, GORSH, DANT, BAUER
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 7/30/2009 at 19:06:51
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
Donald Faas, 74, of Ames, died Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Arrangements are pending with Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, July 30, 2009.
Donald Faas, 74, of Ames, died Tuesday, July 28, 2009, after a brief battle with leukemia. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, also at Memorial Lutheran Church. Interment with military honors by American Legion Post No. 37 will immediately follow the service at Ames Municipal Cemetery.
He was born to Floyd and Irene (Hinrichs) Faas Dec. 23, 1934, on a farm in Pilot Township. He attended Millersburg High School and proudly served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1957, with service in Germany. He was a bit of a rogue until he met his soul mate and he married B. Elaine Parks, of Bloomfield, on June 25, 1960. They lived together in Ames for almost all of their 49 incredible years together. He graduated from Iowa State University with a master’s degree in industrial education and technology in 1968.
Donald was a high school teacher for 33 years, 32 of which were at Ames High School, and he was passionate about making a difference in the lives of his students. He was also an active member of Memorial Lutheran Church for almost 50 years and, in addition to teaching, dedicated his life to the service of others. He served on many boards and was involved in too many organizations to mention, but was a longtime supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of Ames.
Donald was an extremely proud, devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather and is survived by his wife, Elaine; children, Michelle (Jim) Shaw, Tim (Beth) Faas and Nicole (Dan) Hart; and grandchildren, Logan, Levi, Taylor and Caleb. He is also survived by two brothers and three sisters, Robert (Pat) Faas, Richard (Doris) Faas, Marilyn Pruess, Ruth Ann (Charlie) Gorsh, and Esther Dant.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Phyllis Bauer.
He was an avid collector and consummate showman. His treasures were vast and varied World War II artifacts, Ames and Iowa State College memorabilia, toys, bottles, stoneware, fruit jars, and on and on and on. He loved to show and tell and showcased many of his treasures as the “Medicine Man” or through a lively presentation he called “Whatchamacallits and Thingamajigs.” His audiences were as vast and varied as his treasures and all were privy to his enthusiastic love of his collections.
Donald was an eternal optimist, faced every day as an adventure and never met a stranger. He belonged to everyone and was many things to many people: a farm kid, soldier, student, friend, husband, father, teacher and grandfather. Above all, he loved people and he loved life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you celebrate life, cherish your loved ones, be kind to one another and praise God for all the blessings this life has to offer.
Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service assisted the family with the arrangements.
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