LAWHEAD, Donald Eugene

The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa January 2010 DONALD EUGENE LAWHEAD Mesa, AZ Donald Eugene Lawhead was born March 15, 1930 to Robert and Bertha Lawhead in Des Moines, IA. He passed away at home in Mesa, AZ, on January 24, 2010 surrounded by his loving family. Don was from an extended family of four brothers and five sisters, all of whom preceded him in death. Don served in the Army during the Korean War. While on leave, he met a young girl who had just moved to Des Moines from Bad Schonborn, Germany. Don and Waltraud (Wally) were married February 25, 1950 in Des Moines, IA. Together for 59 years they raised six children, Nancy, Diane, Linda, Donna, Kathy, and David. Don worked in the commercial electrical business after his stint in the Army. In 1960 he moved his young family to a farm two miles North of Dexter, IA. There he started Lawhead Electric Company doing commercial jobs throughout Iowa and surrounding states. In 1986 Don and Wally relocated to Arizona. While working several ventures in AZ, Don purchased ground surrounded by sleepy little farm communities South of metro Phoenix. That farm ground quickly became housing developments, where Don designed, built, and operated his pride and joy; a 650-unit RV and mini storage and commercial outlet frontage. Don was a devout Christian. He and his family were long time members of the United Methodist Church in Dexter, IA, and then the Apache Wells Community Church in Mesa, AZ. Those left to cherish Don’s life include his wife, Wally; his children, Nancy Nelson (Jim) of Iowa, Diane Slaymaker of Oklahoma, Linda Schuller (Kirk), Donna Richards (Dave), Kathy Simpson (John Goltz), David Lawhead (Janeen) all from Arizona; and 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and nine step-grandchildren; one granddaughter, Tabitha Slaymaker, preceded Don in death. Visitation was held on Friday, January 29, 2010, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Mountain View Funeral Home Chapel, 7900 E. Main St., Mesa. Memorial Services to be held on Saturday, January 30 at 10:30 a.m., at the Apache Wells Community Church in Mesa, AZ. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Mayo Clinic Arizona for the heart research department.
Posted by Judy Wight Branson on February 10, 2010

Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.