Donald L. Collen

Donald L. Collen, 85, of Dayton, Iowa, passed away Saturday afternoon, October 22, 2011, at his home surrounded by family.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dayton. Rev. Vic Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in the Dayton Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites conducted by the Peterson American Legion Post #323. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Carson - Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton.

Donald Lee Collen was born on January 1, 1926, in Creighton, Nebraska, the son of Lee and Lucinda (Consier) Collen. In 1936, he moved with his parents to Clare, Iowa. Don attended schools in Creighton, Nebraska, a country school in Clare, and later graduated with the Manson High School class of 1943. Don served in the United States Army during WWII from January of 1944 to September of 1946, and was stationed in the Philippines and Japan. On May 8, 1948, Don was united in marriage to Marjorie J. Lambert at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Don farmed in Gowrie for 10 years before moving to Dayton where he farmed for the next 43 years, retiring in 1989. Don and Marjorie moved into Dayton in May of 2004.

Don belonged to Emanuel Lutheran Church in Dayton and was a member of the Peterson Post #323 American Legion. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and woodworking.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Marjorie Collen of Dayton, Iowa; children, Bette (Ron) Jolliffe of Huxley, Iowa, Steven (Kay) Collen, Debra (Norm) Vegors, and Kerry (Coleen) Collen all of Dayton, Iowa, and Kevin (Colette) Collen of Garner, Iowa; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren. His parents, two brothers, and two sisters preceded him in death.