Memorial

Donald Ray Willmott, 95, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday August 23, 2018 from complications after a long battle with Leukemia. Services: 10:00 a.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel, where a visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.  The Rev. Carol Sundberg will officiate.  Inurnment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Donald was born February 18, 1923 on a farm three miles east of Waubeek, Iowa, the son of Charles and Lela (Pratt) Willmott. He graduated from Central City High School in 1940. He was a proud veteran having joined the Navy in November 1942. He served as a medical corpsman in the Marine Corp during World War II. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Div. and was in the September 15, 1944 landing on Pelilu Island and the May 1, 1945 landing on Okinawa. On November 1, 1947 he married Loretta Kepler in Martelle, Iowa. Loretta passed away on January 11, 2006. 

Donald is survived by his sons, Dennis (Linda) Willmott of Jericho, Vermont and David (Janice) Willmott of Morrisville, North Carolina, his grandchildren; Daniel Willmott of Cincinnati, Ohio, Stephanie Willmott of Austin, Texas, Coleman (Sara) Grau of Pensacola, Florida and Hannah (Galen) Tsun of Redwood City, California.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Leo and four sisters; Rubie, Ruth, Lois Jean and Kathryn.

Donald worked at Penick & Ford and Penford Products for 39 years. After retirement Donald volunteered at St. Luke’s Hospital for a total of 14,700 hours. Most of those years were in the Senior Health Insurance Program helping people with insurance problems. Donald was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 727.

Memorial donations may be given to the Meth-Wick Community, 1224 13th Street NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405, St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 1340 3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 or the Anna Purna Ghosh Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1248, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406.