Donald Pettit

Don Pettit, 82, of Winterset died May 21, 2019, at his daughter’s home in Sugar Land, Texas. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday May 31, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 1, at the church with lunch following. Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the St. Joseph Catholic Church and the VFW Post 8142 Student Scholarship Fund. Donald Ray Pettit was born 82 years ago on a small farm in Zion, Iowa, on March 28, 1937, to Agnes and Ed Pettit. He was the fourth child of seven children. Don had three brothers, Bill, Dick, and Jerry; and, three sisters, Lucille, Joann, and Janice. The family moved a lot due to work so roots never grew too deep in any one place. Therefore, Don attended many different schools; and, many times more than one in a given school year. He never graduated from high school due to desiring to join the Army. Since he was not of the legal age of 18 to enlist, his mother had to sign, giving permission for him which she did not want to do but his mind was made up. So in the fall of September, 1954, at the young age of 17, he joined the Army. Don took his basics at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He was then sent to Fort Dix in Trenton, New Jersey, and from there to Fort Lewis, Washington. He then received orders to be sent to Babenhausen, Germany, to serve during the Korean Era. During a 30 day leave, he came back home to Iowa to visit his family. He was on the bus heading home when he met the love of his life, Lois Jean, who was also on that bus going home to Greenfield to see her family. They dated and when the time came that they wanted to marry, Don found himself not of legal age to do so. Once again, his mother had to sign, giving permission for her 20 year old son to marry. They were united in marriage on March 15, 1958, in Greenfield, Iowa. They moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he was stationed and began their family. The family went back to Gehlnhausen, Germany, for his next assignment. One highlight of Don’s time there was working on Elvis’s Jeep when it was broken down. Don served 8 years in the U.S. Army as a Specialist E5, serving as senior truck mechanic. Don was honorably discharged in September, 1961. Don and Lois moved back home to Iowa and bought a house at 603 East Court Avenue in Winterset where they raised their children, Roger, Dawn, Deanna, and Gary. It was a wonderful neighborhood filled with great neighbors and a lot of great kids which still holds many cherished memories and built friendships for a lifetime. During his time in the military, Don earned his GED and on Memorial Day, 2012, 57 years later during the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Winterset Cemetery, he was presented with his high school diploma with a backdrop of hundreds of proudly flown U.S. flags. It was a touching and memorable day for him and his family. Don worked at the Winterset Coop for 11 years. He then started driving a semi for Ellsworth Trucking and then McMillian Trucking in Des Moines, Iowa. He and his 18 wheeler touched every corner of this great country on his runs. He would talk on his CB radio and the “Night Hawk” met many wonderful people from all over this country. After driving, he went to work for the Winterset Water Department for over a decade until he retired. Don was widowed in 1997 from his wife of 40 years. After retirement, Don had to keep busy. He always enjoyed working and especially working outdoors. He always enjoyed working on cars and had a gift for it. One hobby he took up was mowing. It was almost like an artist painting. To be able to take a yard, a blank canvas and cut it, trim it, clean it, and turn it into a beauty. It gave him great satisfaction and peace. Don was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, a proud member of VFW Post 8142, member of the American Legion and member of the Evening Star Lodge No. 43 Masons. Don volunteered for the John Wayne Museum. He was honored in 2012 when he was crowned the 43rd Covered Bridge Festival King. Don’s family has always been very important to him. When his children were still in school, he always strived to make it home Friday night for his children’s sporting or school events. He did his best not to miss a birth, graduation from high school and college for his children and grandchildren, baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, weddings and many visits across the states to be there for his kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Community Service was very important to him as he loved this town and his country. Don leaves behind four children and families: Roger Pettit and wife, Diane, of Wake Forest, North Carolina and their children, Lauren Aves (husband, Tyler) and Blake; Dawn Keith of Centennial, Colorado and her children, Taylor and Erin; Deanna Zekkour and husband, Mohamed, of Sugar Land, Texas and their children, Curtis (wife, Sarah, and their child, Mila) and Sophia; and Gary Pettit and wife Linda, of The Colony, Texas and their children, Lisa Pardo (husband, Ruben, and their children, Venny and Isabella), Sarah Gaona-Munoz (husband, Carlos, and their children, Isaac, Alaina, Carlos, Jr.). Also, many wonderful in-laws, nieces, and nephews. Don is preceded in death by his wife, Lois; parents, Agnes and Ed Pettit; stepfather, Clarence Rudolf; brother, Jerry Pettit; and sister, Lucille Meisenheimer.