Donald "Don" Kent

Funeral services celebrating the life of Donald Clayton Kent of Grand Mound/DeWitt will be held Wednesday, August 21, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Grand Mound, with Derrick Okine officiating.

Visitation will be at the Schultz Funeral Home, Grand Mound, on Tuesday, August 20, 4-6 p.m.

Donald Clayton Kent, 101, passed away gently on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, two days after celebrating his 101st birthday at Fieldstone of DeWitt Assisted Living. 

Don was born in Monmouth, IA, on August 11, 1923, to Andy and Grace (Allen) Kent.  He married the vivacious love of his life, Betty (Jensen) at the Grand Mound Methodist Church on January 15, 1946, and they enjoyed 62 years together.   They welcomed three children, Alan, Steve and DeAnn, into their lives.

Don was a proud WWII veteran having served his country as a P-47 Thunderbolt dive bomber pilot in the India/Burma theatre.

He enjoyed his career in Grand Mound as an accountant and bookkeeper from his mid-20’s until his retirement in the mid-1990’s, serving countless farm families and businesses throughout Clinton County.

Parishioners at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Grand Mound were Don’s spiritual family.

Don is survived by his three children, Alan of McCausland, Steve (Becki Kenton) of Grand Mound and DeAnn (Ron Larson) of McFarland, WI.  He was blessed with six grandsons, Andy (Michelle) of Avondale, AZ, Karl, Lars-Erik and Leif Larson of Brooklyn, NY, St. Paul MN, and Brooklyn, NY, Drew Selim, Des Moines, IA, Scott Selim, Boone, IA, and four great-grandchildren, Brooke Kent (Avondale, AZ), Chloe, Aiden and Charlotte Selim (Boone, IA).  He is also survived by his sister-in-law Jessie Kent (Mequon, WI).

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother Kenneth Kent and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A loyal (rabid?) Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Cubs fan, Don was selected as the Boeing Military Salute recipient for Opening Day of the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on March 30, 2023.   A thrill beyond measure for Don to stand on the turf at Wrigley Field, a mere five months before his 100th birthday.   Go Cubs!!

His family and friends will remember his kindness, energy, spirituality, honesty, humility, decency, service-oriented spirit, and philanthropy.  Grand Mound is the proud home to Don’s depot replica overflowing with a lifetime of railroad memorabilia, a fun and fulfilling passion of his.    Side note- Don lived in a depot in his earliest years in Monmouth while his father was the depot agent there.

Returning to Don’s military service, he earned several medals during his service, but he was most proud of his Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded to flyers for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.

Don was a family man who relished ANY ballgame, musical performance, croquet match or travel opportunity in which he could participate.  Don and Betty saw the world, but Iowa was in their souls and without a doubt their forever home.

God has blessed his amazing life that was so thoroughly well-lived in service to many.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be given to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Grand Mound, Fieldstone of DeWitt, Grand Mound Impact Fund or Grand Mound Railroad Museum.  Thank you to ALL for your friendship during Don’s long life.

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, Grand Mound. www.schultzfuneralhomes.com

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