Donald I. Reiman

Donald “Don” Reiman, 90, of Clarion passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Donald Reiman will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue Northeast in Clarion, with Father Jerry Blake and Deacon Pedro Garcia officiating. Burial will be held at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held prior to services at the church on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 AM.

Donald Isadore Reiman, the son of Joseph and Elenor (Hoffman) Reiman, was born December 5, 1928 in Carroll, Iowa. He was raised on a farm near Roselle, where he attended school.

Don served in the United States Army in Okinawa during the Korean War, working as a mechanical inspector in the motor pool. Following his discharge, he returned to Roselle to farm with his family prior to moving to the Clarion area to farm in 1958.

On December 13, 1958, Don met Shirley Merkel at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. The couple dated for several years and were united in marriage at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City on August 13, 1966. To this union, daughters Dawn and Andrea were born.

Don and the family continued to make their home in rural Clarion, as they continued to farm until 1984. Don was named Master Swine Producer and Outstanding Young Farmer for Wright County. Along with his own farming and livestock operation, Don did a great deal of custom work and continued to feed hogs for Murphy’s until he and Shirley moved to town in 1990 where his focus turned to having the perfect lawn.

Don worked for Meredith (later E.D.S.) in Clarion until retiring in August of 2006 at the age of 77.

In his youth, Don loved playing baseball. He played on a team in Roselle until he moved to Clarion. He continued to enjoy watching baseball and football. Don’s pride and joy was his 1961 Chevrolet Impala that he ordered new in December of 1960. He and Shirley were members of the Antique Automobile Club of America and the North Iowa Association for the Preservation and Restoration of Automobiles. They enjoyed attending car shows and won many trophies for the car. Don later restored the Impala, which remained in the family and is currently owned by a nephew in the state of Washington.

Don was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Clarion and was an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus.

Donald is survived by his wife of 52 years, Shirley, of Clarion; daughters Dawn Marie (Daniel) Barragy of Clear Lake and Andrea Marie (Thad) Sheldon of Iowa City; grandchildren Niko Barragy of Fertile, Larissa Barragy of Waterloo, and Ezra Sheldon and Marshall Sheldon of Iowa City; siblings Harold “Harry” (Sally) Reiman of Carroll, and Luella (Billy) Wanninger of Manning; along with numerous extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Velaria Page and Marlene Stecher.