Donald E. Long

DONALD E. LONG

Mount Pleasant

Donald E. Long, 83, of Mount Pleasant, went to be with the Lord Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, at Arbor Court in Mount Pleasant.

The funeral service for Mr. Long will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Calvary Baptist Church, 809 E. Mapleleaf Dr., Mount Pleasant, Pastor Matt Reno will officiate. Burial will be

in the Trinity Cemetery,

rural Mount Union, with military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. Friends may call from Noon to 4 p.m. Monday at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main St., Mount Pleasant. Visitation with the family present will continue from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church.

Donald Eugene Long was born June 23, 1936, the son of Max Earl and Stella Marguerite (Abrahamson) Long. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1955. On Oct. 2, 1955, at the Baptist Parsonage in Lockridge, Don was united in marriage to Joyce Nicholson of Mount Union.

Don entered the U.S. Army Reserves in 1955 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He served with Company B, 495th Engineer Battalion and was called to active duty during the Bay of Pigs invasion. He was honorable discharged on Dec. 6, 1961

Don began his working career with his father at Long's Produce in Mount Pleasant. He also worked at the former Panther Rexall Drug Store and Keith Garretson Equipment. Don began a 41-year career with National Guardian Life Insurance with the Eldon Roth Insurance Agency/Crossroads Financial Group in Mount Pleasant as a general sales agent. In 1972, he was honored with the "National Guardian Best New Agent Award." He received numerous awards and trips, his most prized one being the trip to Hawaii in 1999.

Don was a member of the American Legion Robert Tribby Post 58 and the Henry County Honor Guard. He served with Mount Pleasant Fire and Rescue for 10 years. He served 18 years on the Henry County Credit Union Board of Directors and was Chairman for many years.

Don was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant. He served on the Deacon Board, as Financial Secretary, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and served on the Missionary committee. He loved the Lord and trusted Him through many physical difficulties. Don's favorite Bible verses were Philippians 4:6-7, which he loved to share with others. He enjoyed Wednesday night Bible Study and the After Church Sunday Night Group.

He loved reading history books, especially on World War II, playing the guitar, building model airplanes and rooting on the Green Bay Packers and Iowa Hawkeyes. He enjoyed the get-togethers and trips with his wife's Class of 1956 from Winfield High School. He had been a volunteer in the information booth at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion for many years. Don received the Iowa Patriotic Quilt of Valor in November of 2018.

Don loved life and laughed often. He was always eager to share his love of telling jokes. His family was a continued source of joy and pleasure for him.

Those thankful for sharing in Don't life include his wife of 64 years, Joyce of Mount Pleasant; two daughters and their husbands, Teri Lu and Allan Schmoldt of Muscatine and Melanie Dawn and James Housel of Mount Pleasant; five grandchildren, Mitch (Theresa) Meeker of Muscatine, Molly (Cory) Bachman of Muscatine, Kelly (Matthew) Lord of Mount Pleasant, Jeff (Audrey) Housel of Burlington and Allison Schmoldt of Muscatine; nine great-grandchildren, Philip, Audrey, Myra and Own Lord, Jordan Meeker, Ivy Lu and Lily Bachman, Brinley, Malia and Teegan Housel and Lincoln Ross; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Long; sisters, Lula Sodergren and Lorraine Jennings; and grandsons, David and Brian.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to Calvary Baptist Church or Great River Hospice.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.