Don Eugene MAY

MAY, BARRACKS, GERDES, GAYKEN, GARDNER, BABCOCK, HUBLER, KENISTON, SHIPMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/13/2013 at 13:10:54

April 17, 1925 --- October 8, 2013

KANAWHA -- Don Eugene May, 88, passed away October 8, 2013, at the Kanawha Community Home in Kanawha, following a lengthy courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Corwith with the Rev. Barbara Chapman and the Rev. Joel DeBoer officiating. Inurnment will be in the Corwith Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by American Legion Elmer Wilson Post #229. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Oakcrest Funeral Services in Corwith.

Don was born April 17, 1925, to Hattie (Barracks) and Vern May of Corwith. Don attended school in Corwith, Iowa. Following his school years he helped on the family farm. While a young man he ventured to New York where he worked for a few years until enlisting in the Army in 1944. Don was a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army and a squad leader during the Luzon Campaign in World War II in the Phillipines. He re-enlisted in 1946 in Gifu, Japan. Don often spoke of how he was in Nagasaki, Japan, a week after the bomb was dropped and told of the devastation he witnessed. After re-enlistment his occupation in the service was a member of the 60th Engineers as a construction foreman. While holding that position he helped build many structures, roads and bridges. He always spoke of the many parts of the world he visited and his chance encounter spending a day with Ernest Hemingway. While serving his country Don received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

Following his discharge he returned to the Corwith area to farm. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Gerdes June 21, 1949, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden. He and Betty farmed their entire married life until retirement when they moved into Corwith and resided, until Aug. 20, 2013, when he entered the Kanawha Community Home. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Corwith and the Corwith American Legion. Don enjoyed golfing, playing cards, gardening and spending time with family and friends. He will always be remembered for his strength, fun-loving spirit, laugh and kindness.

Don is survived by sons Tom (Peggy) May of Arvada, Colo; Mike (Becky) May, of Britt and daughter Susie (Doug) Gayken of Britt; grandchildren: Nike (Lisa) May and their children, Kylie, Aiden and Jaxson of Ankeny, Ivy and (Jason) Gardner and their son Garrett of Wesley, Luke (Brittney) May of Britt, Paige May of Spirit Lake; Stacy Babcock of Corwith and her children Autumn, Emorie and Athens and Steven Gayken and his son Brice of Britt; stepsisters Verna May of Des Moines; Phyllis (Fred) Hubler of Cedar Rapids and Elly (Ken) Keniston of Scottsdale, Ariz.; sisters-in-law Alice May of Algona, Barb Shipman of Nora Springs and Leota Gerdes of Garner; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; parents, Hattie May and Vern May, stepmother Minnie May, brothers Dick May and Larry May, and great-grandson Billy Gardner. Oakcrest Funeral Services.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Mason City, IA
October 10, 2013