Donald Adams, 1928-2020

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Donald L. Adams, 92, of Lake Mills died Friday, March 27, 2020, at Lake Mills Care Center.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will not have a public memorial at this time.

A private family service will be at Mittelstadt Funeral Home with the Rev. Melinda McCluskey officiating. It was streamed live on the funeral home’s Facebook page beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Inurnment for both Don and LaVonne will tentatively take place this summer at Salem Memorial Cemetery in rural Lake Mills. Military honors will be conducted by Otto Chose American Legion Post No. 235 and Louis Tveite American Legion Post No. 317.

Memorials may be directed to MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, 232 Second St. SE, Mason City, IA, 50401.

Donald LeRoy Adams was born Feb. 29, 1928, in Worth County to parents Corbet and Sarah (Bye) Adams. He was the youngest of six children and lived an eventful life from beginning to end. At the age of 1 Don contracted an illness, running a fever so high that he almost died. Thankfully he survived, because it gave him many, many opportunities to celebrate Leap Day. When Don passed away, he had officially celebrated 23 Leap Day birthdays at 92 years of age.

He attended and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1946. On March 1, 1946, Don enlisted in the Unites States Navy, serving during World War II, and was honorably discharged Dec. 29, 1947.

Not long after Don returned home from the service, on his fifth birthday (20 years old) while attending a dance in Albert Lea, Don made eye contact with LaVonne Hanson and the rest is history. They were married July 9, 1949, at the First Lutheran Church parsonage in Albert Lea, and made their home north of Rice Lake, where Don farmed. Don sold seed corn for O’s Gold which allowed him and LaVonne opportunities to travel for the company; some memorable destinations were Hawaii and Spain. After their first visit to McAllen, Texas, Don and LaVonne were hooked. Don referred to their retirement community and the views around McAllen as heaven, and subsequently spent over 30 winters escaping the Midwest cold.

Friends and family of “The Judge” will remember him for his ability to be the instigator of the practical jokes, rarely the recipient. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and spending time with his family, and there would usually be a game of cribbage involved.

Don will be remembered by his four children, Pat (David) Young of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bruce Adams of Lake Mills, Mike (Regina) Adams of Lake Mills and Donna (Jim) Kellogg of Mason City; 10 grandchildren, Bob (Sara) Young, Kurt Young, Chris (Diana) Adams, Justin (Amber) Adams, Tim (Katie) Adams, Rick Adams, Scott (Becky) Adams, Jim Adams, Catherine Adams and Elizabeth (Jesse) Hill; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law Norma Adams, Dan (Judy) Hanson, Mary (David) Adamson, Judy Hanson, Sharon Hanson, Sandy Zwick, Sonnie Woolson, Ann Hanson, Paul (Mary) Hanson and Pam (Paul) Jerdee; as well as many extended relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Corbet and Sarah; wife, LaVonne, in 2010; a daughter-in-law, Mary Adams; and siblings James (Maevis) Adams, Eva (Louie) Hareid, Carma Adams, Cora (Elwood) Rice and Blanche (Howard) Hareid.

You can contact the family with online condolences at www.mittelstadtfuneralhome.com.