David E. Heaton

David Edward Heaton, known to most as “Dave”, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2025 at Park Place in Mt. Pleasant after a brief stay and under the care of Hospice.

Born February 2, 1941, in Sigourney, Iowa to Ward V. and Jean Miles Heaton, Dave was raised in a restaurant family with arts and music plentiful. From his father he learned the value of labor and hard work; the love of the arts came from his mother. He graduated from Sigourney High School in 1959. The family then relocated to Washington, Iowa.

Dave earned a B.A. degree in History and Business Administration from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1964. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and remained connected to his fraternity brothers and fellow alums for the decades that followed.

Following graduation from college, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and was attached to the 872nd Maintenance Support Company of Washington, Iowa. He taught Social Studies and Government at Van Buren High School, also serving as assistant coach of girls basketball and defensive coach for the football team under Coach J.D. Schimmelpfenning, his lifelong friend and fraternity brother at Iowa Wesleyan.

After working at the Iris Restaurant during college, he jointly purchased the establishment in 1967, becoming sole owner several years later.

On May 18, 1968 he married Carmen Crawford in Olds, Iowa and together they raised two children, Mary Elizabeth and David.

Dave and Carmen were true partners in the restaurant and he took pride in serving the public with good food and service. Dave valued the relationships he made in the restaurant business with loyal customers and employees, many who held jobs during high school and college and during points of transition in their lives.

In 1995, Dave was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, serving southeast Iowa for 12 terms (24 years). He served as a co-chair of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Sub-Committee for an extended period. His focus and passion were on Human Services and improving the system for Iowa’s most vulnerable people. “I’ve been so happy to have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, trying to improve the quality of life for people. It’s been very rewarding and very challenging,” he said. Dave was known for working across the aisle to reach consensus, impassioned speeches, and as a champion for those who needed it most.

During the legislative sessions Dave always returned home on weekends. He believed that his greatest listening and learning opportunities occurred when people talked to him as he carved their ham and roast beef at the end of the buffet line at Iris Sunday dinners. He retired from office in 2019.

Dave was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and the Mt. Pleasant chapter of Kiwanis International. In recent years he served on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and on the board of the Hope Haven Development Center. He was a past president of the Iowa Restaurant Association and the Iowa Licensed Beverage Association; also, a former board member of the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce and a former co-chair of the Henry County Republican Party.

Dave was the recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from Iowa Wesleyan College. In 2012 he gave the commencement address at Iowa Wesleyan College, where he received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. In 2018 Dave was the recipient of the Hoover Uncommon Public Service Award. Through the years he was also recognized for his work and advocacy by many state agencies and organizations.

Dave cherished morning coffee at Dicky’s, and time with his brother, Denny, and good friends after his retirement. He was a regular at 2nd Tuesday dinners with ROMEOs.

Dave is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carmen; his daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Ben) Carrick of Omaha, Nebraska; his grandchildren Sophia and Patrick Carrick, Omaha; his brother, Denny Heaton (special friend Judy McCuen) of Mt. Pleasant; his sister Jan (Leo) Gordon of Los Angeles, California; sisters in law Mary Crawford of Georgetown, Texas and Jo Crawford of Falls City, Nebraska; brother in law Bill (Karolyn) Crawford of Winfield; nephews Chris (Erin) and Mike (Abigail) Heaton, Mt Pleasant; Ari and Jason (Ed) Gordon, Los Angeles; Anna Crawford, Kansas City, Mo.; Philip Crawford of Winfield; grand nieces and nephews Robert and Eli Heaton, Keegan and Kya Heaton, Avery and Jacob Gordon, and Audrianna Crawford.

He was preceded in death by his son, David, his parents Ward and Jean Heaton, and his mother and father-in-law Viola and Philip Crawford.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2025, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant. Rev. Ross Epping and Rev. Nick Adam will con-celebrate the Mass. Inurnment will follow in the St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, February 28, from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the church. A Vigil Prayer Service will be held at 3:30 p.m. The family will greet friends from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. 

Memorial funds have been established for St. Alphonsus Vincent de Paul fund which exists to provide assistance to members of our Mount Pleasant community who may find themselves in financial hardship; as well as Mount Pleasant Kiwanis for projects benefiting local children. The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Dave and his family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com

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