NO. 17621 •
Died 4 July 1990 in Onawa, Iowa, aged 64 years
Interment: Whiting City Cemetery, Whiting, Iowa
FORTY YEARS AGO DON was described in our Howitzer: "From the Middle West came this Iowa State lad with curly hair and a ready smile that made him everybody's friend. Slipping easily into cadet life, he applied himself to academics with good results. Never too busy to help the goats, he still found time to pursue his interests in numerous activities. Don's perserverance and diligence assure his success in future endeavors."
Truly a prophetic assessment, missing only a few other important characteristics: a permanent twinkle in his eyes, a deep and ingrained modesty and a sincere concem for others. From early life until his passing, he was a model friend, husband, father, neighbor and citizen.
Upon arrival at Beast Barracks, he shared a secret with several of our class ‑ he had been to "tin school," Kemper Military School. Revelation of this to the Beast Detail or any intimation of prior military training usually resulted in additional harassment. Don kept his secret and, with his usual calm, made it through with relative ease. He enjoyed his four years at the Academy, his education, the expansion and exposure to new friends, new social opportunities and experiences. Throughout our Cadetship he remained devoted to his bride-to-be Mary "Frant." He was an easy person to like and one who, in a very quiet way, extended his friendship to most everyone he met. These characteristics of his youth were maintained throughout his life. Good humor, thoroughness, competence and sincerity were his attributes, and he had them in unusual abundance.
Following graduation and his marriage in June to Mary Frant, Don was assigned to the 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Division, which shortly went to Korea. Reports on his performance by fellow soldiers were that he was calm, thorough and very competent. The Army recognized his worth by awarding him the Silver and Bronze Stars.
However, the call of the Midwest proved greater than the peacetime call to arms, and in 1954 Don and Mary Frant settled in Onawa, Iowa, where they raised a wonderful, close‑knit, loving family of two sons, three daughters and six grandchildren. Don was successful in many areas of agri‑business, grain, cattle and banking and was involved in his community and a variety of civic organizations.
What more could be said than "Well Done; Be Thou At Peace."