Donald E. Sadler

Donald E. Sadler, 88, of Clarion passed away Thursday, December 3, 2015, at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services for Donald Sadler will be held on Monday, December 7, 2015, at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, 201 3^rd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Pastor Mike Gudka officiating.  Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation for Donald Sadler will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2015, from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Donald Sadler was born in Eagle Grove, Iowa on May 17, 1927, to Theodore E. and Hazel (Corsair) Sadler.  His childhood was spent on the Ed Kirstein farm where his father worked as a hired man.

Don attended Woolstock No. 1 country school through the eighth grade, then finished his schooling in Eagle Grove High School, graduating in 1944.  While there, he played tuba and cornet in both the marching and concert bands.

After graduation, Don farmed with his father until 1947, when he was hired as a diesel operator with the Iowa Public Service Company in Clarion.  His 42 year career with the utility company included all facets of the electric distribution system and most of the gas department besides the diesel operator.  He spent many hours repairing downed power lines caused by storms, and that included Charles City and Sioux City after tornadoes ravaged their cities.

While working for the Company, he met and married Virginia Reed, who was also employed there.  To this union, two daughters were born, Nikki and Nancy.

Don’s many interests included playing softball, flying, fishing and watching his beloved Cubs play ball on TV.  He held a pilot’s license in his younger years, and also spent many happy hours building balsa model airplanes of the World War II era.  He played softball in 4H on the Clarion town team, and the church league, most as a pitcher.  Fishing in Minnesota and Canada took up many vacations.  After retiring, he and Virginia spent 24 years wintering in Texas, where they enjoyed all of the activities there, especially square dancing.

Don is survived by his wife, Virginia of Clarion; daughter, Nikki (DeWayne) Slaughter of Treynor, Iowa; one granddaughter and two grandsons; two great-granddaughters and one great-grandson and son-in-law, Harry Irwin of Reno, Nevada.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Nancy and his sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie and Thomas Alter.