Donald William Mathiason

Donald William Mathiason, age 101, of Belmond and Rowan, passed away Monday December 1, 2014 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Funeral services for Don Mathiason will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday December 4, 2014 at the United Church of Rowan. Pastor Nancy Hoffmeister will officiate. Burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion at 2:30 P.M. on Thursday. Visitation for Don Mathiason will be held from 12:00 Noon until service-time on Thursday at the church in Rowan. Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane South in Belmond is in charge of arrangements.

Donald was the third child out of eleven born to Peter and Clara McCallum Mathiason on August 6, 1913 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. In the early 20’s the family moved to a farm near Rowan. The family fell on hard times so moved to Mason City to seek employment. As a teenager Don joined the Boy Scouts there is where he met Mr. Swift of Marshall & Swift. Mr. Swift took Donald under his wing and later employed him in the cleaning business. Don graduated from Mason City High School in 1931. When World War II broke out Don joined the Duesenberg Road Crew building the Alcan Highway. He started out as a truck driver and worked his way up to bookkeeper, then time keeper. He was in Alaska from spring of 1942 into most of 1943. He then moved to California to be with his family and started working in the dry cleaning business. In 1947, Iowa called him back and he bought the hardware store. In September 1961 he married his work mate Jamie Lyons. In 1972 he sold his business and spent the next 15 years delivering Winnebago units across the U.S, including Alaska. Rowan was home until July 2004, they decided to move into the McBurney Apartments in Belmond. Jamie passed away August 2006. Don continued to live in the apartment until May 2009, when he moved into the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Don was an avid sportsman. He played on many company and town baseball teams, he was known to bowl a 290, catch a 27 lb. Northern on one of his many Canadian fishing trips with friends and relatives. He shot a bear in Alaska, pheasants and water fowl were no match for his dead eye. Don knew no stranger and always had a story to share. Don was a member of the Rowan Methodist Church, now the United Church of Rowan; He was a charter member of the Lions Club for 64 years. He also was a volunteer fireman, served on the City Council where he was “the know” of the water, streets and sewer system. Don also belonged to the Dows and Clarmond Country Clubs, where he played in many golf tournaments. Throughout his lifetime of membership to various organizations, Don was awarded the Distinguished Lions Club Award; International President’s Award for Service; Lions Warren Coleman Honorary Award and Certificate of Appreciation.

Don is survived by siblings Carole, Gerald and Phyllis, step-daughter Joyce (Gary) Sells of Kirksville, MO, step-daughter-in- law, Elizabeth Lyons, Clarion, Iowa, many nieces and nephews all from California, five step grandchildren, thirteen great step- grandchildren and ten great great step-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Jamie and siblings, Ethelyn, June, Laura, Alice, Janet, Lloyd, Gladys, step-son, Richard and several nephews.

Don lived 101 years to the fullest!