Donald McCormick
Donald J. McCormick, 74, of Harpers Ferry died suddenly Saturday, February 26, 2022. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 1 at St. Pius Cherry Mound Catholic Church in rural Harpers Ferry with Fr. Sean Smith officiating. Burial was held in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.
Don McCormick was born April 2, 1947 to Emmett J. and Dorothy A. (Duball) McCormick in Prairie du Chien, WI. He grew up on the family farm in rural Harpers Ferry and graduated from Waukon High School in 1966. He married Sharyn McKee September 14, 1968 and continued his passion for farming on their acreage just a couple miles from the homestead.
Don lived on their farm until the day he died and wouldn’t have it any other way. He was a true farmer at heart, starting his mornings by checking livestock, fences, and the occasional chat with a neighbor; all with Duffer on his lap. Don’s cows grew quickly familiar with the sound of his voice, four-wheeler, or any truck he rode in on. Many knew it was Don they were meeting on the road by the Ford truck coming their way or by the dog’s flapping ears hanging out the driver’s side window.
Don was an active member of the Harpers Ferry Volunteer Fire Department for 40 years, and continued with the department for years after, not missing a single Wild Game Feed. He was a member of the Allamakee County Cattlemen, Equity Northeast Iowa Sales Commission, FSA, and, of course, Rivers & Bluffs Classic Tractors. A favorite of his was a tractor ride on a sunny day, loving those red ones. “Crops are Green, Tractors are Red.”
Survivors include his wife, Sharyn, of Harpers Ferry; two daughters, Janelle (Paul) Snitker of Waterville and Jolyn (Kurt) Philipp of Marion; seven grandchildren: Cierra (Travis), Jaydon, Amy (Chad), Alex (Tessa), Brenner, Ashlyn and McKynlee; one great grandchild, Shandon; two siblings, Tom (Beth) McCormick and Judy (Dennis) Jones; and one wiener dog, Duffer. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Emmett McCormick; and his in-laws. Cletus and Carolyn McKee.
Honorary casketbearers were Don’s grandchildren. Casketbearers were Paul Snitker, Kurt Philipp, Ron Cota, Ron Heffner, Dave Wolfe, Dave Kleinow, Bob Cota and Dave Cota.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
