Donald Pett, 83
Donald Pett age 83 of Fredericksburg, IA died Monday, January 27, 2020, at Mercy One Medical Center-New Hampton.
Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at United Methodist Church in Fredericksburg with Rev. Mike Christie celebrating the service. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg.
Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2020, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Fredericksburg. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Online condolences for the Pett family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com
Donald Pett was born on March 22, 1936, to Charles and Doris (Trewin) Pett on a farm near Fredericksburg. He attended a one-room schoolhouse — in all likelihood walking through two feet of snow in the winter — before transferring to Fredericksburg High School, where he was a member of the Class of 1954.
He joined the U.S. Army Reserves and his various training helped him see different parts of the country, but Don was, at his essence, a farmer. He had a passion for the land, and he tended to his crops and livestock with loving care. Like many farmers years ago, he raised pigs, he milked cows and had other animals on his farm.
Don remained a bachelor for a long time, but in the 1970s, he gave a ride to Carol O’Connell as she made her way to her family’s milking barn “down the road” and the two hit it off. Don and Carol had a very short courtship, less than a year — eventually marrying on Dec. 27, 1980, and he always said the two married on that date so that they’d catch a tax break the following year.
The couple farmed near Fredericksburg and welcomed two children — Andrew and Amanda — and although they did divorce, they remained amicable and put their family first.
His children remember their father as a “good Dad” who loved to play with his kids and supported them in whatever endeavor they were pursuing.
He was also a diehard — and that probably doesn’t do it justice — University of Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He loved watching the Hawks on the football field, the basketball court or anywhere else, and his kids joked that if someone wearing Hawkeye gear was playing chess, “Dad would have been there cheering him on.” There’s a reason the “Iowa Fight Song” will be played at this funeral.
Don had a deep faith and was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Fredericksburg, where he welcomed worshippers, handed out bulletins and always took the offering.
He adored his one grandchild, Charles, who always received a Case IH red tractor for Christmas from his grandpa.
Don suffered five strokes over the past 20 years, but until the last one, he always bounced back; after all, he had a farm to run, kids to love and, of course, the Hawkeyes to cheer on.
He will be deeply missed by his family, his friends, and his fellow United Methodist Church members, but they are grateful that he is now at peace and cheering the Hawkeyes on from above.
He is survived by one son Andy (Michelle) Pett of Fredericksburg, IA; one daughter, Amanda (Dustin) Grahlman of Minneapolis, MN; one grandson, Charles Grahlman; one sister-in-law Rita Pett of Levittown, PN; two nephews, Robbie Pett of Thompson Station, TN, Dennis Pett of Franklin, TN; one niece, Tina Pett of Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, David Pett in infancy, Robert Pett; one sister, Marilyn (Dale) Grahlman.
