King Sr., Donald 'Ambrose'

Donald “Ambrose” King Sr., 79, died Thursday, July 8, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital following a courageous battle with a long illness. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick Catholic Church by Father Phil Thompson. Private inurnment: St. John's Cemetery. A vigil service will be held today at 4 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit from 2 to 6 p.m. Friends may also visit at the church after 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Donald is survived by his wife, Barbara of Cedar Rapids; seven children, Donald A. (Janice) King III of Cedar Rapids, Lorri (Don) Pate of Hiawatha, Kathie (Bob) King-Hoffman, Daniel King, David (Niki) King, all of Cedar Rapids, Diane (Rory) Smith of Marion and Douglas (Krista) King of Cedar Rapids; 18 grandchildren, D. Ambrose IV, Danielle, Ray “R.C.,” Kacy, Jason, Kristalyn, Melanie, Kellie, Dan, Dana, Michelle, Stefanie, Sarah, Joseph, Kelsey, Cassie, Morgan and Trey; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Thomas M. (Virginia) King of Gilmer, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald A. King; mother, Helen Eleanor Knudson; and stepfather, Melvin Knudson.

Donald was born June 21, 1931, in Ute, Iowa, the son of Donald A. King and Helen Tharp King. He attended Fort Dodge Junior College and was a lifetime member of the Boys Town Alumni Association. He won many athletic awards and was the first boy to win the Benjamin Victor Award for Outstanding Senior Scholar and the Monroe trophy for basketball at Boys Town in the same year. Don attended Coe College, where he was on the baseball team. Don married Barbara May Paradies on Sept. 11, 1954, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

He served in Korea with the United States Marine Corps and was awarded a Purple Heart. Don was co-owner of the Paradise Sports Lounge. After retirement he worked part time at the City Beat.

Don was a member of AMVETS Post 6, American Legion Post 5, Cedar Valley Detachment Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 10, VFW Post 788, Cedar Rapids Softball Hall of Fame and St. Patrick Catholic Church since 1960.

Don had a very deep faith and loved God, his family, his country and the Marine Corps. He loved to make people laugh and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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