Don Flanigan

Don Flanigan

Don Flanigan

Mr. Flanigan passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 17, at University Hospitals, Iowa City. He was born April 12, 1943, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Charles and Clara Flanigan, in the house right next door to his future wife. After spending his childhood in Wisconsin, at 16 he began a long-distance relationship with his old neighbor. Their letters blossomed into love. Donald and Donna K. Freeman were united in marriage on Sept. 1, 1962, at Saron Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, Michigan.

Donald graduated from Iowa State University with a master’s in experimental psychology, the first of many in his family to graduate college. He and Donna moved to Davenport, in 1968, where they expanded their family. Don and Donna were blessed with two children. Donald worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of Iowa for 33 years. He kept in contact with many of his clients and encouraged them in their lives.

He was a great bridge player, a member of the ACBL (Ruby Life Master). He and Donna often helped other players become Life Masters. He was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America. He was proud to have had three Eagle Scouts in the family. He traveled all 50 states with his family, leaving behind years of memories of kids and grandkids and many friends. Don and Donna made two trips to El Salvador after retirement, and twice visited Europe. Don was most proud of taking his wife to Ireland in 2008. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing cards, and was an avid Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs fan. Don had many interests and hobbies at which he excelled, from bowling a 300 at just 17 to writing a novel in his middle age. After having secretly taught his daughter to read at age 4 while cuddling through the Sunday funnies, it was no surprise that when she asked him how to write a story in seventh grade, he wrote a novel. The resulting book, “Iragih!” was lovingly published by his nieces, Kathy Parker-Witzke and Tricia Ponzer and by his daughter, DeeAnn DeZarn.

Survivors include his wife Donna; daughter, DeeAnn (William) DeZarn, Bettendorf; son, Charles F. Flanigan, Pickerington, Ohio; son, Miguel (Evie) Torres, El Salvador; grandchildren, Daisy, Eli and Isaac DeZarn; Zachary, Sean and Katie Flanigan, and Kevin and Gabriella Torres; sister, Sally (Ed) Walotka, Oshkosh, Wisconsin; brother, Wayne Flanigan, Amberg, Wisconsin; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Clara Flanigan; sisters, Sharon Loker and Patricia McClusky; brother, Randy Flanigan, and his mother and father-in-law, Glenn and Daisy Freeman.

Online condolences may be expressed to Donald’s family by visiting his obituary at www.WeertsFH.com.