Don J. Adams

Don J. Adams
July 28, 1915 - September 22, 2005
Sigourney, Iowa
Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m. October 01, 2005 at Sigourney United Methodist Church
Visitation: 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. September 30, 2005 at Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel
Interment: , at Pleasant Grove Cemetery
SIGOURNEY-Don J. Adams, age 90, of Sigourney, died Thursday, September 22, 2005, at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, from complications of age. Don was born July 28, 1915, in Sigourney, Iowa, the son of Don and Mabel (Horn) Adams and graduated from Sigourney High School in 1933. He was associated with Sigourney weekly newspapers continuously for 56 years, from 1933 until 1989, with the exception of military service during WWII and three semesters at the University of Iowa. Adams went to work for the Sigourney Review in December 1933. He became a partner with Cotton Etter in The Review in 1953, and purchased full interest in The Review April 1, 1959. Adams consolidated the Sigourney Review and the competing Sigourney newspaper, the Keokuk County News, into a single newspaper, the present Sigourney News-Review, on November 1, 1960, purchasing the News from Leland M. Turnbull. Adams retired as publisher of The News-Review July 31, 1989, when it was sold to its present publisher, Kenneth Chaney. He married Sylvia W. Kucera at Sigourney on December 12, 1937. Don served 18 months in the United States Army during WWII, seeing overseas combat action with the 89th Infantry Division in Germany. Service decorations included the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, two battle stars and Purple Heart. He was a member of the Sigourney Planning and Zoning Commission from 1985 until 2005, the Sigourney board of education for nine years, past commander of the Lacey-Kerr V.F.W. Post #2308, member of the American Legion Post #19, Sigourney Golf and Country Club, lifelong active member of the Sigourney United Methodist Church, serving as choir director about 30 years until 1975, member of the Sigourney Library Board about 30 years, the Iowa Newspaper Association, Sigourney Isaak Walton League, member and past president of the Sigourney Chamber of Commerce, past president of Sigourney Area Development Corporation and a member of the Keokuk County Historical Society. He had been named an honorary member of the Sigourney high school chapter of Future Farmers of America and the Keokuk County 4-H Clubs. Don was also a 50 year member and Past Master of of Webb Lodge #182 A.F. & A.M. He was a member of the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Masonic bodies and the York Rite Masonic bodies of Ottumwa, and was designated a 33rd degree Mason in 1967. He was also a member of the Kaaba Shrine of Davenport and served as Past Worthy Patron of Aspasia Chapter 198, Order of the Eastern Star in Sigourney. Survivors include his wife: Sylvia Adams of Sigourney; two children: Don Adams and wife Jody of Sterling Heights, Michigan and Bette Jean Amble and husband Dr. Bruce of Carterville, Illinois; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Richard H. Adams. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2005, at the Sigourney United Methodist Church with Rev. John Hembry officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Sigourney. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30, 2005, at the Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel in Sigourney, where there will be a Masonic service at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the Sigourney Public Library or the United Methodist Church. Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Sigourney is handling the arrangements.