Donald "Don" Williams
September 15, 1937 — June 6, 2023
Donald “Don” Williams, 85, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Family will greet friends from 3 - 8 p.m. Sunday, June 11, 2023, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 12, 2023, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Fr. Jon Seda as Celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow at Dunkard Cemetery, Toddville, Iowa.
Don was born on September 15, 1937, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, the son of Dillon and Helen (Wickham) Williams. He was a 1956 graduate of Center Point High School and went on to serve honorably in the United States Navy for two years. When he returned home, Don was united in marriage to Ramona May Cornette on September 12, 1959, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Walker, Iowa. He worked as a lineman at Iowa Electric for 14 years. After leaving Iowa Electric, he became a realtor for Gibson Realty before moving on as an insurance agent for Western Fraternal Life until retirement.
Don enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Don and Ramona were active in their card club, affectionately known as “The Minnesota Family” with which they had many wonderful years of vacations and celebrations. He was extremely service oriented and active in the community. Don served as a Boy Scout leader, a volunteer fireman, Lion’s Club member, charter member of St. Pius Catholic Church where he served as a greeter and usher. He also donated blood and volunteered for Meals-On-Wheels. Don loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter.
His love and passion was driving the team bus and watching the Alburnett and Kirkwood softball, volleyball, and basketball teams. He spent many nights and weekends traveling with and supporting the teams. He took care of each player as his own and loved all of “his girls”.
Don is survived and lovingly remembered by his children, Shelly (Freddie) Morris of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Bryan (Tammy) Williams of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and Traci (Paul) Gavin of Marion; ten grandchildren, Spencer (Elizabeth) Morris of Bloomington, Minnesota, Brittany Morris of Madison, Wisconsin, Nikelle (Alan) Baryudin of Madison, Wisconsin, S. Sgt. USAF Logan (Allison) Williams of Madison, Wisconsin, Carson Williams of Madison, Wisconsin, Joel (Haily) Hoyman of Emmetsburg, Iowa, Jordan Hoyman of Iowa City, Iowa, Bret Hoyman of Iowa City, 1st Lt. Iowa Army National Guard Trenton (Haley) Gavin of Ankeny, Iowa, and Kailee (Derek) Thomae of Marion; five great-grandchildren, Connor Gavin, Beckham Thomae, Maisie Hoyman, Camden Gavin, and Brielle Morris; brother David (Sharon) Williams of Hackensack, Minnesota; two sisters, Becky (John) Fuelling of Monona, Iowa and Rhonda (Dave) Wilhelmi of Shellsburg, Iowa; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of almost 60 years, Ramona; brother Bill Williams; and sister, Linda Bailey.
Memorials in Don’s memory may be directed to the family as a fund has been established.
Please share a memory of Don at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Don was born on September 15, 1937, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, the son of Dillon and Helen (Wickham) Williams. He was a 1956 graduate of Center Point High School and went on to serve honorably in the United States Navy for two years. When he returned home, Don was united in marriage to Ramona May Cornette on September 12, 1959, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Walker, Iowa. He worked as a lineman at Iowa Electric for 14 years. After leaving Iowa Electric, he became a realtor for Gibson Realty before moving on as an insurance agent for Western Fraternal Life until retirement.
Don enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Don and Ramona were active in their card club, affectionately known as “The Minnesota Family” with which they had many wonderful years of vacations and celebrations. He was extremely service oriented and active in the community. Don served as a Boy Scout leader, a volunteer fireman, Lion’s Club member, charter member of St. Pius Catholic Church where he served as a greeter and usher. He also donated blood and volunteered for Meals-On-Wheels. Don loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter.
His love and passion was driving the team bus and watching the Alburnett and Kirkwood softball, volleyball, and basketball teams. He spent many nights and weekends traveling with and supporting the teams. He took care of each player as his own and loved all of “his girls”.
Don is survived and lovingly remembered by his children, Shelly (Freddie) Morris of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Bryan (Tammy) Williams of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and Traci (Paul) Gavin of Marion; ten grandchildren, Spencer (Elizabeth) Morris of Bloomington, Minnesota, Brittany Morris of Madison, Wisconsin, Nikelle (Alan) Baryudin of Madison, Wisconsin, S. Sgt. USAF Logan (Allison) Williams of Madison, Wisconsin, Carson Williams of Madison, Wisconsin, Joel (Haily) Hoyman of Emmetsburg, Iowa, Jordan Hoyman of Iowa City, Iowa, Bret Hoyman of Iowa City, 1st Lt. Iowa Army National Guard Trenton (Haley) Gavin of Ankeny, Iowa, and Kailee (Derek) Thomae of Marion; five great-grandchildren, Connor Gavin, Beckham Thomae, Maisie Hoyman, Camden Gavin, and Brielle Morris; brother David (Sharon) Williams of Hackensack, Minnesota; two sisters, Becky (John) Fuelling of Monona, Iowa and Rhonda (Dave) Wilhelmi of Shellsburg, Iowa; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of almost 60 years, Ramona; brother Bill Williams; and sister, Linda Bailey.
Memorials in Don’s memory may be directed to the family as a fund has been established.
Please share a memory of Don at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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