Donald Howard

Donald Avery Howard, 79, of Laurel, passed away peacefully in his home while surrounded by his loving family on Thursday evening, April 3rd, while in care of the Iowa River Hospice. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8th, at the Laurel United Methodist Church with Pastor Kiboko I. Kiboko officiating. He will be laid to rest in firemans honors at the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown from 4-8:00 p.m. on Monday. Don was born on May 13th, 1928, on the family farm in rural Laurel, the seventh of nine children born to James and Dora (West) Howard. He attended school in Laurel and worked on the family farm and enlisted in the US Army in 1950. On June 12, 1955, he was united in marriage to Patricia Hawkins. They lived most of their married lives in Laurel. Don was employed by Laurel Blacksmith Shop for 23 years and the Laurel Coop for 12 years. He did snow removal and mowed for the City of Laurel and many property owners since 1984, until the fall of 2006 because of failing health. He was a member of the Laurel United Methodist Church all of his life, the Laurel Lions Club and on the Volunteer Laurel Fire Department for over 50 years. He enjoyed NASCAR (especially Mark Martin), the Marshalltown Speedway and his friends at Sues Caf in Laurel. He was known as good old Donnie Howard throughout Laurel because he would help out anyone in need and he was a friend to everyone. Left to celebrate his life is his loving wife Patricia for nearly 53 years, his daughters: Ellen Butler and Kristi Howard of Laurel, son Scott Howard of Grinnell, Grandsons Lloyd and Loren Butler, granddaughter Tearstyn Howard all of Laurel, adopted daughter Josie Eggers and adopted granddaughter Cierra Eggers both of Laurel, one brother George (Iva) Howard of Marshalltown, two sisters: Margaret Fuller of Marshalltown and Ruth (Donald) Howard in Illinois, brother-in-law Donald Murdock of Otley, Iowa, sister-in-law Margaret Howard of Marshalltown, many nieces, nephews as well as a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter Lori in 1984, his parents James and Dora as well as three sisters and two brothers.