Holmes, Donald K. 'Don'

Donald K. “Don” Holmes, 81, died Sunday, March 24, 2013, at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab in Vinton following a long illness. A Celebration of Life for Don will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at the home of Jeff and Angie Holmes, 705 First Ave., Vinton. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at Vinton Presbyterian Church with Gene Spicer, CLP, officiating. Inurnment with military rites will be held in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo at a later date.

Don was born July 17, 1931, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the youngest of four sons of H. Roy and Amy (Hanna) Holmes. He graduated from high school in 1949 and after attending Iowa State Teachers College (ISTC) in Cedar Falls and participating on the wrestling team that went on to win the 1950 National Championship, he left school in 1950 to join the U.S. Navy.

He married Barbara Meewes on Dec. 16, 1951, in Waterloo. He returned to ISTC in 1953 and graduated in May 1957 with a degree in science and secondary education. He started teaching biology and general science at Manchester High School in 1957 while serving as an assistant coach in football and wrestling. In 1961, the family moved to Vinton where Don began a 33-year run as a member of the faculty. He is probably best remembered for teaching biology, physiology and driver's education.

Don was the head wrestling coach at Vinton from 1961 to 1973. He led the Vikings to the program's only WaMaC wrestling championship in 1972. His teams won three sectional championships and six invitational tournament championships, more than any other coach in program history. Don was in the first class of inductees to the Viking Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Don was a wrestling official for nearly three decades, retiring from officiating in 1993. He officiated numerous college meets and was chosen to officiate the NCAA Division II National Championships in Cedar Falls. He also worked at the scoring tables of three NCAA Division I tournaments. Don was elected to the Iowa High School Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame in 1988.

Don was an avid golfer and a longtime member of the Vinton Country Club. He enjoyed fishing, the St. Louis Cardinals and the UNI Panthers. He was a joker and a poet, and he was devoted to his family and friends, especially in later years to his “Best Buddy,” his grandson, Sage.

He took great pride in every athlete and student he ever encountered. While he was always pleased with their accomplishments, he took even more pride in the people they went on to be. He always took a secret pride that many of his former athletes and students still called him “Coach” or “Mr. Holmes” decades after they'd had him in school.

Don is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara of Vinton; his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Angela Holmes, and his beloved grandson, Sage, all of Vinton; his brother, Glenn (Freddie) Holmes of Cedar Falls; numerous nieces and nephews across the country; and countless friends whose lives he had touched.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Dale and Wayne Holmes; and his niece, Judy Holmes Mortenson.

A memorial fund has been established.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Don and his family.

Condolences may be left at .

Published in The Gazette March 26, 2013.