Donald Houser of Tustin, California, passed away on September 14, 2020. On December 31, 1930, Don was born in Boone, Iowa, to Harold Houser and Helen Chinstedt Houser. Don’s wife, Carol, preceded him in death in 2013. Don is survived by his sons, Mark Houser and his wife Kellie, Paul Houser and his wife Kris, Eric Houser and his wife Sylvia; his grandchildren, Erin, Andrew, Ryan, Savannah, Nicolas, Grace, and Elaina.
His granddaughter, Sarah, passed in 2018. Don is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Witten, Marley, and Hope.
Don graduated from Boone High School and Iowa State University. Don grew up during the Depression. He attended college at Iowa State University on a football scholarship. Don also played basketball at ISU his freshman year and competed in the long jump at ISU. He loved to tell game day stories. In 1953, Don was shown running the ball for a touchdown in the National College Football Highlight Film. Don’s love of sports and his work ethic were imparted to his sons.
After college, Don entered military service during the Korean War. He served as First Lieutenant and instructor for the U.S. Army Field Artillery Officers School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After his military service, Don was an athletics coach at Galesburg, Illinois High School. With a growing family, he entered the business world as a salesman for Tennant Company in St. Louis, Missouri. He became V.P. of Sales and Marketing at several national companies, which lead him to Minnesota, and eventually California. Don served on the Salvation Army Advisory Council in Los Angeles. He also served on the Southwest Florida Lutheran Church Advisory Council. He was deeply involved in Christian Evangelism in churches in California and Florida. Don enjoyed spending his retirement with his wife, Carol moving back to Boone, Iowa, to take care of his mother and then to Naples, Florida, and Tustin, California, to live near family.
Visitation and funeral service will be held on October 2, 2020, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary in Santa Ana, California, followed by a reception in Fairhaven's Garden Room and burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, California at 3:30pm.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the HOUSER family.
