Donald 'Don' Neblung

DONALD "DON" NEBLUNG

Cedar Rapids

Donald "Don" Neblung, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, after a long battle

with cancer.

He was born on Aug. 24, 1941, to Kenneth Sr. and Ruth Neblung, with brother Kenneth Jr. "Bud" Neblung (deceased). Don was married 56 years to his beautiful wife, Lori Neblung (deceased). He is survived by his son, Scott Neblung with wife Cherie of Vinton; his daughter, Missy Kilbey with husband Rich of Mililani, Hawai'i; and grandsons, Reece (21), Cade (17), Marcus (16) and Miles (14).

Don attended Jefferson High School and Coe College before working in the insurance industry with United Fire and Casualty, Transamerica and retired from Employers Mutual Insurance Company in 2006.

Don's magnetic personality and knowledge of softball pitching was known all around the state of Iowa. He volunteered as a pitching coach for the Jefferson J-hawks during the tenure of Larry Niemeyer and provided countless pitchers with lessons all winter and spring long. During the summer, you could always find Don at a Jefferson or Prairie softball game, sitting in the bleachers, right behind the catcher.

His hobbies included collecting stamps, attending auctions with his son, traveling the world with his wife Lori, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and relentlessly combing the beaches of Hawai'i in search of precious sea glass. Don would take simple shells and sea glass to create beautiful jewelry for people.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 a.m. to noon with a short Celebration of Life to begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 20, at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East. All attending Don's visitation are expected to wear masks and practice social distancing. A private burial will be held with family at Saint John's Cemetery.