Donald Vannatta

Donald Vannatta, 78, of Waukee, IA, formerly of Marshalltown, died Monday, March 14, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa.Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will be held with the family from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the family. For condolences please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Don and his family. Phone 641-844-1234.Donald Eugene Vannatta was born on June 24, 1932, in a country farm house outside State Center, Iowa. He was the son of Ernest and Ila (Aves) Vannatta. Don attended school in the Dillon and LeGrand area, graduating in 1949. On July 1, 1951, he was united in marriage to Barbara Carlson at the First Baptist Church in Marshalltown. Don had been employed at Fishers for 41 years in Marshalltown, first in the machine shop then as a foreman, retiring as Shop Floor Supervisor in 1992. Mr. Vannatta will be fondly remembered for his love of family, NASCAR, boating, John Deere Tractors and Corvettes. Don enjoyed his summer vacations to Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri with his whole family. Left to cherish his memory are his daughters: Kathy (Mike) Eygabroad of Osage Beach, MO., Karen (Ed) Malmanger of Urbandale, Iowa, and Kim (Terry) Rich of Urbandale, Iowa; eight grandchildren- Missy Eygabroad, Denise Reese, Michael Eygabroad, Nicole Bruere, Tom Malmanger, Amy Dagestad, Adam Rich and Alex Rich; 10 great-grandchildren, three brothers, one sister and his special friend, Carolyn Loos. In death, Don rejoined his beloved Barbara, his parents and a sister.