BOONE, Iowa—Donald Buckley Dodd, Sr., age 93, of Boone, passed away Monday, March 10, 2025 at his home, with his family by his side.
The 5th of 7 siblings, Don was born in Boone, Iowa to Claude and Vivian (Dake) Dodd on September 30, 1931. A graduate of Boone High School, in 1951 he was drafted into the Army at age 20 and he was sent to Korea as a frontline radio repairman. While there he saw a picture of Karen Finley, also of Boone, in a buddy’s wallet and wrote to her. Karen read the letter to the ladies in her mother’s beauty shop and asked what she should do. The ladies said, “He’s from Boone, you should reply.” Karen replied but when he returned from the war, he didn’t look her up. The two met again at the roller-skating rink in Boone and started dating. They married on November 12, 1954 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa.
Over 70 years of marriage Don and Karen were blessed with 7 children, 4 girls and 3 boys. Don worked while attending Boone Junior College on the GI Bill; he earned an Associate’s Degree. He worked as a Letter Carrier for the Post Office, where he was proud of walking 18 miles a day. He also worked as a draftsman part-time and served 37 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, ending as a Recruiter and a Staff Sergeant.
Don and Karen had 22 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. A beautiful singer, Don loved Big Band music and used his piercing whistle to call his kids, and grandkids, playing in the neighborhood that “it’s time to come home now.”
A voracious reader of “good literature” from authors like Louis L’Amour and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Don also liked military thrillers and adventure novels by Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler. He excelled at roller skating from a young age and most of his life. He excelled at bowling, pool, poker and was an avid golfer. He maintained a large garden for fresh vegetables, strawberries, and red raspberries. He suffered many a thorn to obtain the thousands of wild black raspberries necessary for his favorite pies and jellies.
Don and Karen were snowbirds, going south to Alamo, Texas to escape Iowa’s winters for 18 years. His wife and family were the center of his life and he was never happier than when surrounded by a huge group of wise cracking family members—except for the time when he cracked multiple ribs while jumping for a fly ball in a slow pitch softball game. Then he complained about the amazing amount of comedians in the family.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; 5 siblings: Betty Grundon, Phyllis Clopton, June Miller, Clifton Dodd, and Douglas Dodd; a granddaughter, Jenna Elsberry, and a grandson, Keaton Dodd.
He is survived by his wife, Karen; his children: Pam Dodd of Ogden, Deb (David) Duncan of Boone, Laura (Don) Elsberry of Boone, Donna (Randy) Stafford of Devils Lake, ND, Don Jr. (Robyn) Dodd of Nevada, Bill (Becky Wachter) Dodd of Des Moines, Heidi Dodd of Kearney, MO, and Bob (Krista) Dodd of Lehigh; one brother, Ken Dodd of Boone; numerous grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
To honor his wishes, a private family service is pending.
In lieu of flowers, and other customary gifts, please consider donations in Don’s honor to the Ericson Public Library, 702 Greene Street, Boone, IA 50036.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Adams Funeral Home, 502 Douglas Ave. Ames, IA and online condolences may be left for Don’s family at www.adamssoderstrum.com
Donald Dodd, Sr., 93, Boone, Iowa
