Donald Downing
August 29, 1935 ~ September 11, 2010
Donald F. Downing, age 75 of Fredericksburg died Saturday, September 11, 2010 in Rochester, Mn.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2010, at the United Methodist Church in Fredericksburg.
Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg with Gene Nelson, Vernon Uhlenberg, John Ross, Bob Ross, Denny Ott, and Ken Harada serving as pallbearers.
Friends may call Monday, September 13, 2010, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Hugeback and Chenoweth Funeral Home in Fredericksburg. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Donald Frank Downing was born August 29, 1935, the son of Frank W. and Emma (Schreiber) Downing in Westgate, Iowa. He graduated from Fayette High School in 1953. Don continued his education at Upper Iowa University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Education in 1957. He later earned his master’s degree from St. Mary’s College in Winona, MN.
On September 2, 1956, Don was united in marriage to Betty Kuhens in Fayette. To this union, three children were born. Don worked as a teacher in Fredericksburg all his life. He was a junior high football coach, and worked as the announcer for all of the varsity football games. He was an avid Mark Twain collector. He enjoyed antique shopping with his wife, and they together collected small bird figurines. He enjoyed camping with his family at Paradise Valley and also hunting pheasants, squirrels, and rabbits.
Don is survived by his two daughters, Stacy (Dave) Crabtree and Gerri Moore, both of Mt. Vernon; one son, Jim (Patty) Downing of Lakewood, Co; a sister, Margie (Bob) Johnson of Jamaica, Vt; four grandchildren, Kevin (Michelle Clark) Crabtree, Kasey (Ryan) Jones, Alex and Allison Moore; and two great-granddaughters, Maiha Richardson and Natalie Bemer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 44 years, Betty.
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Don Downing was one of the original good guys from the old Fayette High School that we younger students looked up to. He had the positive personality and care for others that made him a great role model for all. Kip (Fayette HS 1959) & Eileen Knight
Mr. Downing was such a fun teacher and a genuinely nice guy. Glad to have been able to know him. My condolences to the family.
the donald family, i am so sorry about your death of your father.he was old school teacher to me.
Stacy & Dave we’re so sorry for your loss! I have many good memories of your dad. We’ll be keeping all your family in our prayers!
Stacy,Jimmy,Gerri and families, Our thoughts are with you at this diificult time. We always enjoyed the visits we had with your dad when we saw him around town. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers as you all face the days ahead.
Just to let you know you have our sympathy. He was a great teacher and person. Take care!!!
We would like to extent our sympathy to your family. We are at Paradise Valley and have known Don for around 15 years. We enjoyed talking with him and sitting around the campfire. We always had a on going joke when we moved in to the mobil home accross from him and your mother. The first thing we did was paint our trailer grey with pink shutters so you dad always kidded us and called out triler the fuf-fuf triler. He will be truely missed by all that knew him. Ours thought and prayers. Deb
Stacy and Dave, My deepest sympathies, and to the rest of your family. God Bless Gary Morriss
Dear Downing family: I will always have very fond thoughts of Don as my teacher in junior high and high school. I always enjoyed the great stories he told in class. I also enjoyed listening to him when he announced at football games. He always had time to talk whenever he saw me around town. I will miss that. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Mr.Downing was always a fair teacher you got the grades you had coming ! He helped me in bio class with things i do today !
I met Don 11 yrs ago when I set up my place in Paradice Valley. Don’s love of nature led to many visits to my site to watch the birds at my feeders. He always had a story to tell. My fiance Mike and I will truly miss our visits with Don. We will remember him each spring when the gold finches turn their feathers to a beautiful yellow. Our sympathy goes out to his family.
Gerri and family, you know my heart goes out to you. It’s been a hard year for us but I know you were there for me and I hope you know I will be there for you. You are in my thoughts and prayers always.
Dear Downing Family, We were so sorry to get the news about Don. You have our heartfelt sympathy. We always enjoyed spending time with him and hold fond memories of him and your mom from our Fredericksburg days. Sorry we cannot attend the funeral but our hearts are with you all. Sincerely, Bob and Sharon
Dearest Stacy, Dave, Kevin, Kasey and family – We send you our love and our prayers at the loss of your dad and grandpa. Don was a wonderful part of our family and we will all miss him greatly. Peace to you at this difficult time.
Mr. Downing was one of the most caring teachers I ever met! I used to love listening to his stories…especially the one about the percolator! 🙂 He will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
To the family of Don Downing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to each and every family member. Don was a really nice person to know and will be missed greatly. Randy and Mary Jane Leach
Stacy Gerri Jim Thoughts and prayers are with you and all your families at this time, hold all the great memories in your hearts to comfort you in the days to come. Our families go back a long way we even lived in the same house at one time.. so I have lots of memories of both of your parents through home, church and of course school .. They served Fredericksburg well and will always be remembered in kind ways .. Blessings to you all
Mr. D was a teacher we loved to pick on. I learned alot from him in biology and geometry, but never did quite understand the game of chess. I enjoyed our ‘over the road’ conversations in our neighborhood. May he rest in peace now. Jane Melugin Brooks
My sincerest sympathy. Take comfort that he is with Betty again. He was a teacher of mine and I had many fun conversations with him at the golf course. Dena Speicher Palmer