HEWITT, Donald J. (1931-2019)

HEWITT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/20/2019 at 23:47:16

Donald James Hewitt
October 11, 1931 - November 06, 2019

DONALD HEWITT
Donald James Hewitt, 88, of Indianola, passed away peacefully at MercyOne Johnston Hospice on November 6, 2019. Don was born on October 11, 1931 to Donald R. Hewitt and Alexandra Limewood Hewitt in Sioux Falls, SD.
Donald’s childhood was spent in many different schools until his parents settled in Sioux Falls where he entered high school and graduated from Washington High in 1950. He enjoyed hunting with his father and continued that hobby with his son.
He enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in the Spring of 1951 as an art student and was on the swim team. Seeing the benefits of the Nebraska football team he asked the coach if he could be a walk on and lettered with the team all four years of his college career; having played in the Orange Bowl his senior year. It was at this time he became a member of the American Mensa LTD Society. He joined the ATO Fraternity while in college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in the Spring of 1956. After graduation, he entered the Naval Officer’s Candidate School in Newport, RI where he graduated with the rank of an Ensign.
During his time at the university, Don met Carol E. Duey and they were married the spring of 1955. To this union were born three children: Eric, Amy and Gretchen.
After Don’s Naval duty was over, they moved to the Des Moines, IA area where he worked briefly for IBM and Bordon’s until becoming President of the Stoner McCray System of Des Moines, a position which he held for 29 years.
During his working years, he was very active in the community and his family life. He became a scuba diver and instructor, often took his family on camping trips, coached Little League teams, and played tennis and handball. He ran the Original Pheidippides Marathon route in Greece as well as the Boston, Chicago and Grammas marathons; running 15 others in three years.
After Don and Carol parted, he met Myra who would become his best friend and they eventually married in Bella Vista, AR, November 28, 1998. A marriage which lasted until his passing.
Don was a man for all seasons. He and Myra joined the Iowa Ski Club and took many trips to ski locations in Utah, Colorado and Minnesota. They skied the SolBright trail without a guide and Don skied in the Alps with the Iowa Ski Club. At Myra’s insistence he took up golf. After retiring, Don attended the San Diego Golf Academy located in Arizona where he graduated with honors achieving an Associate of Applied Business Degree. He and Myra bicycled across the United States on a tandem, canoed the Picaquare River in Costa Rica, played golf at St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland and Ireland, and took their college student children on ski trips to Colorado. Don was an avid reader, and welcomed the challenge of a good bridge or chess game. He never lost his loyalty to the Nebraska Huskers. He became a Kansas City Chief fan after manning the tollgate booth for the Chiefs for three years. He belonged to the Des Moines Mensa Society, Shriners, Free Masonry, Scottish Rite, Sons of the American Revolution, Pheasants Forever, Pioneer Gun Club, and Ducks Unlimited. He completed and received his Certified Property Manager Certificate in 1982 and held his Iowa Real Estate license until he retired.
He knew the Lord and often said his best prayers were on the golf course or enjoying the beauty of God’s world.
Those who have preceded him in death are his parents, Donald Rockwood and Alexandra Hewitt; former spouse, Carol E.; brothers-in-law, Richard Knapton, Bruce, James and Paul Gaffey; and sister-in-law, Josephine (Bill) Heller.
Those who remain to share his memories are his wife, Myra; children, Eric (Marci) Hewitt, Amy (Russ) Cory and Gretchen (Tracy) Williams; stepchildren, Bonnie (Garry) Richtsmeier, Brenda Tyler, Barbara (Darin) Schanel and Bill (Kris) Frueh; sisters, Sandra Knapton, Carol Ann (Carl) Lamberti and Marcia (Don) Coughennower; sisters-in-law, Margaret Weber and Joanne (Eldon) Appenzeller; and grandchildren, Thomas Hewitt, Jordan Mayo, Arden, Kendall and Chase Trusty, Sean Reed, Syreine Richtsmeier, Chelsea and Colton Tyler; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/