Sass, Donald Arthur

Donald Arthur Sass, 79, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, with the Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. Interment and military rites will take place at St. Stephen's Lutheran Cemetery near Atkins. Visitation also will be held at the church in Atkins from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Donald was born March 3, 1931, on the family farm in rural Shellsburg, the son of John and Emma (Kreutner) Sass. He graduated in 1948 from Atkins High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

Donald married LaVonne Willard Jacobsen on Aug. 14, 1970, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins. He was a lifelong farmer of the land on which he was born. He was a lifelong member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and a member of Adolph H. Schueler American Legion Post 217 in Atkins.

He is survived by his wife, LaVonne of Shellsburg; his sons, Gorden (Kathy) Jacobsen of Atkins and James (Hazel) Jacobsen of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Joshua Jacobsen and fiancee Holly Mews of Boone, Josef Jacobsen of Iowa City, Jeremy (Shannon) Jacobsen of Boone, Alexis (Matthew) Erusha and Maria (Andy) Olson, all of Atkins, Brigitte (Chris) Phillips and John Tyler, both of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Kamryn, Carter and Maverick Jacobsen, Caleb, Avalynn and Bella Olson, and Maleena Phillips; sisters-in-law, Rose Sass of Shellsburg and Betty Sass of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, Elmer, Willard “Bill” and Arlo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and the Adolph H. Schueler American Legion Post 217 of Atkins.

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