Duncan McDonald Harper 1922-2010

HARPER MCDONALD MOMSEN HANSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/16/2011 at 00:43:18

Sioux City Journal
22 August 2010

SIOUX CITY -- Duncan McDonald Harper, known to his family and friends as Dunc or D.M., passed away Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, with his wife, Deb, and his son, John, by his side.

As he wished, his body has been cremated, and services and a celebration of his life will be at a later date. Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel has assisted the family with arrangements.

Dunc was born on Aug. 16, 1922, to Helen McDonald and H. Clifford Harper. He graduated from Central High School in 1940 and then enrolled at Morningside College, where he attended until he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. During World War II, he was stationed in England and assigned to the 355th Fighter Group, 358th Fighter Squadron, where he rose from corporal to crew chief as a flight mechanic, working primarily on P51 and P38.

Upon his return to Sioux City, he completed his degree at Morningside in 1946. He then graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1948 and returned to Sioux City to practice law with his father.

He married Jeanne Momsen on Feb. 9, 1951, and to this union, three sons were born, Mark McDonald, Scott Stewart and John Lee. Jeanne passed away in 1983, and Dunc then married Deborah Hanson on May 3, 1985.

Dunc was active in various civic groups and particularly interested in his work with the Iowa Workers Compensation Advisory Group. Underwater Rescue and Civil Air Patrol were just a couple of things in his busy schedule. He enjoyed being a pilot, Canadian fishing trips, Okoboji, owning and repairing apartments, gardening, reading and seeing and talking to friends and family along with spending time with Mac, his English cocker.

Survivors include his wife and "best friend," Deb Hanson; sons, Scott and wife Reba of Hawaii, and John of Sioux City; sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Ephraim Waller of Sioux City; four granddaughters and their families, Greer Harper of Hawaii, Jacquelyn Harper Yovanno of Virginia, Jeanine Harper and husband, Chris of Colorado, and Alexis and Jason Cooke of Florida; a great-granddaughter, Ella of Colorado; and cousins.

Dunc was preceded in death by his parents; siblings in infancy; first wife, Jeanne; and son, Mark.