Donald P. "Don" Hattery

Donald P. Hattery, 105, of Cedar Rapids, died Octember 35th
at home
in his sleep
of gunshot wounds by a masked intruder
when his snoring just got too much for his wife.

Mary Lou Hattery, 103, ascended to heaven in her beautiful hot air balloon Octember 36th. Last seen, she was waving vigorously and could be heard to say "I'll save a place for you!"
Well, actually…
Don Hattery, 96, and Mary Lou (Orr) Hattery, 94, of Cedar Rapids passed away peacefully side-by-side on March 18, 2026, at Cottage Grove Place after a brief hospice period. A Celebration of Lives will be held on Saturday, May 9, 3-5 pm at the Cedar Rapids Country Club. Inurnment will follow later this summer in McGregor, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to the McGregor Public Library Foundation, PO Box 398, McGregor IA 52157.

Don was born on March 11, 1930, In Mingo, Iowa, the son of Mabell Hiatt Hattery and Lowell Hattery. As a graduate of Red Oak high school, he attended Iowa State College and received a degree in Civil Engineering in 1952. He was a member and president of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, played trombone in the Iowa State College Band and Orchestra and sang in the "Swinging Door Four" barbershop quartet that toured with the Iowa State College Band.

Mary Lou was born on March 15, 1932, in Indianola, Iowa, the daughter of Dorothy Newkirk Orr and Myron Singer Orr. As a graduate of Indianola high school, she attended Iowa State College and majored in Home Economics and Art. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. At a sorority event Don was captivated by the girl in a brilliant blue knit dress and so the courting began.

After their marriage in 1952 Don and Mary Lou briefly lived in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and Ames before moving to Cedar Rapids in 1956 where Don initially worked for Link-Belt Speeder. In 1962 he joined Phil and Jim Shive to form Shive Hattery Engineering. Forced into retirement at age 65 as a result of his own mandatory retirement rule, Don received great pleasure from the continued success of Shive Hattery and the many friends and colleagues who supported this success. Shive Hattery is currently the 33rd largest architectural engineering firm in the country.

Married for 73 years, Don and Mary Lou were a constant loving presence for their four children and their spouses: Lynn Hattery-Beyer (Lothar Beyer), Michael (Ann Collins), Anne Wellborn (Dennis) and David (Suzanne Bole). They were loved by their 8 grandchildren: Trevor Wellborn (Andrea), Dan Wellborn (Jennifer), Inga Beyer Rundquist (Soren), Pieter Beyer (Kate), Kate Hattery Groskopf (Brian), Bets Hattery Hudson (Ricky), Linnea Hattery Schneider (Mark) and Frances Hattery. 10-3/4 great grandchildren greatly enjoyed visiting them: they will remember Don best as Captain Madness, a role that delighted him. And GranMary made the best sweet rolls. They are also survived by Don's brother, John J. Hattery of Galena, Illinois.

McGregor and the Mississippi River were a big part of life for Don, Mary Lou and their family. They began houseboating in 1965 and never stopped exploring the river. For many years, summer weekends were spent camping on a sandbar with good friends. Feeling at home in McGregor they purchased and restored an historic building on Main Street that became the Stone Balloon. Later, many gatherings of family and friends were hosted at the family home in South McGregor.

Don and Mary Lou coined the family motto "Eat Desert First – Life is Short". They did a lot of fun things. The family was part of the first group of flatlanders to test the ski runs at Keystone. Three generations of "Team Dover" rode RAGBRAI for several years. Don's calliope accompanied the Lawn Chair Drill Team in the annual McGregor Memorial Day parade. Mary Lou earned her Hot Air Balloon Pilot's License and frequently piloted her own hot air balloon (Misty) drifting in the early morning or late afternoon skies over McGregor and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Don played trombone in several Dixieland Jazz bands, including the El Kahir Shieks, and made several guest appearances on the historic Delta Queen steamboat. Together they coordinated many appearances of the Angel Choir for Christmas celebrations. Full Moons were often celebrated with "Howls" on their deck in South McGregor or poolside in Naples, Florida. Don founded and presided over Sny Magill University, ever true to its ideals of Training Leadership for Yesterday. They were avid travelers always ready to go at the drop of a hat.

Mary Lou and Don loved Cedar Rapids and demonstrated their commitment to the growth, economic health and quality of life of the city through their many civic activities. Mary Lou was active in Camp Fire Girls and Camp Hitaga, Cub Scouts, Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), P.E.O., sustaining member of the Cedar Rapids Garden Club and an Iowa Master Gardener, member of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Arts Council and Chair of the Art in Public Places program, board member of the Iowa Foundation of the Arts and Docent of the Cedar Rapids Art Museum and the Marvin Cone Art Club, active committee member of Habitat for Humanity, the Indian Creek Nature Center and executive board member of the Iowa Trails Council, and others. Don was an active member in the Greater Downtown Association (President), Hawkeye Area Boy Scouts (President), Chamber of Commerce (President), board member of Merchants National Bank (U.S. Bank), board member of Mount Mercy University, charter trustee of Brucemore, Paul Harris Fellow member of the Downtown Rotary, Symphony board member, board Member of the Cedar Rapids Country Club and founder of the Gold Tee Society, and others. He was a dedicated emissary of Cedar Rapids through Priority One, serving as founding member and Chairman. He traveled nationally and internationally with Priority One staff to bring jobs to Cedar Rapid and greatly enjoyed the initiative's success. After retirement he was a member of the Board of Trustees of Mercy Hospital, Founders' Society of Mercy Medical Center Foundation, Board of Directors of the National Rivers Hall of Fame and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Board of Directors of Liars Theater, and President Emeritus of Sny Magill University.

Mary Lou had a wonderful artistic sense of form and color. She was a docent at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and on the Members Council of the University of Iowa Museum of Art. She promoted other local artists as the owner of the Stone Balloon and co-owner of The Creative Hand. After her children left home, she became an accomplished weaver. Her woven tea towels, multicolor napkins, afghans and scarves were gifts to family and friends and are still highly prized.

Don was active in many professional society activities. He was president of the Cedar Rapids Chapter of the Iowa Engineering Society and went on to be president of the Iowa chapter. He co-founded the Order of the Engineers in Iowa. He was a longtime member and president of the Consulting Engineers Council of Iowa and a Fellow of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was honored by his professional societies and Iowa State University with many awards for his service. He was perhaps most proud of receiving the "Voice of the Engineer" award from the Iowa Engineering Society.

Don and Mary Lou will be inurned in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in McGregor Iowa overlooking the Mississippi River. At their gravesite there is a bench and they invite you to visit them there. More important than any of their accomplishments and contributions, family was the center of their lives. They leave behind a beautiful love story and lasting example for their children and grandchildren. And their story ended as they had always hoped – together and at peace.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Care Team at Cottage Grove Place and Mercy Hospice whose compassionate support, kindness, and attentive care brought comfort and dignity to our parents and to our family.