Donald J. Jahn 1925-2010

JAHN SPARR WEINRICH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/2/2011 at 17:27:01

Sioux City Journal
18 November 2010

PIERSON, Iowa -- Donald J. Jahn, 85, of Pierson passed away Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at a Sioux City hospital after a brief illness.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church in Pierson, with the Rev. Bill Cotten officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Pierson. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Rohde Funeral Home in Kingsley, Iowa.

Don was born Sept. 18, 1925, in rural Hinton, Iowa, to Herman and Anna (Sparr) Jahn. He grew up in Moville, Iowa, where he graduated from Moville High School in 1943. He joined the U.S. Navy as a radioman third class on the USS New Orleans. He was honorably discharged in April 1946.

On Sept. 18, 1951, he was married to Betty Weinrich at the Little Brown Church. Don and Betty started their life together in Moville, moving to Pierson in 1959. Don worked for 40 years for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation as a civil engineering technician. After retirement from the USDA, he worked as an assistant park ranger at the Little Sioux Park in Correctionville, Iowa.

He was a member of the Pierson United Methodist Church, Pierson Masonic Rutland Lodge and American Legion Harrison F. Pedersen Post 291. He was also a member of Abu-Bekr Shrine of Sioux City, being a part of the vintage wheels unit and sponsored three children to the Shriner's Hospital in Minneapolis. He was a volunteer fireman for Moville and Pierson Fire Departments. He was a Boy Scout leader in Pierson for many years and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. Don loved conservation programs and all outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, golfing and both flower and vegetable gardening. He built 100 bluebird houses and placed them along the Little Sioux River, keeping a journal for many years of the nesting activity.

Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty; his children, Russell of Omaha, Lorri (Jack) Jahn-Slaymaker of Spencer, Iowa, Chari (Troy) Scholtman of Sioux City, Greg (Ronda) of Le Mars, Iowa, and Art (Janet) of Omaha; and eight grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Walter; and an infant sister, Esther.