Donald Wayne Misenhelter, 70, of Iola died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011, at his home.
He was born Nov. 1, 1940, in Joplin, Mo., to Albert and Mable (York) Misenhelter. He grew up in the Joplin area and joined the U.S. Navy in 1957, where he served as a plane captain on the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard until he was honorably discharged in 1962.
On Aug. 17, 1962, he married Jacquelyn Clinton at Iron Gates Christian Church in Joplin. They made their home in Joplin where he worked as a machinist for O&F Machines for 15 years before the family moved to Iola.
He worked for Berg Manufacturing in Iola a short time before he and Neil Westervelt started M&W Machines in Iola from which he recently retired.
He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Iola for a number of years and more recently attended Fellowship Regional Church in Iola. He enjoyed going to air shows, flying model airplanes, fishing, hunting and riding with the Shrine Little Wheels.
He is survived by his wife of the home; two sons, Randall Lee and his wife, Crystal, Iola, and Scott Lynde and his wife, Rebecca, Gilbert, Ariz.; four grandchildren, Alyssa Hicks, Kristin Michael, Bryce Misenhelter and Ashlynde Misenhelter; and a great-granddaughter.
A daughter, Christina Renee Hicks, died in 1989, and a brother, Harlen, also died earlier.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Iola. The Rev. Jeff Cokely will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery in Iola.
Memorials to Allen County Hospice may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences for the family may be left at iolafuneral.com.
Donald Misenhelter
