Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1924
DIED
2025
FUNERAL HOME
Donald Gahan Obituary
July 21, 1924 - January 22, 2025
Donald Joseph Gahan, longtime resident of Winnebago County and Forest City, IA, passed away peacefully at the Concord Care Center in Garner, IA, on January 22, 2025. He was born July 21, 1924, near Hutchins, Iowa, Hancock County, and married Jean Verhoef Myhre on October 12, 1945.
Most of his boyhood was spent in and near Danbury, IA, but he moved to Winnebago County at thirteen and farmed with his father until 1948, when he began to farm independently. In 1956, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Forest City Farmers Cooperative Association and served in various Board positions until 1974. In 1968, he sold his farm near Forest City, but continued to farm until selling his remaining land and auctioning his equipment in 1974.
He next sold John Deere equipment with the Eymann Implement Company of Forest City until retirement. Even then, he maintained his connection to farming, buying and selling antique tractors, participating in tractorcades and working for farmers in the area during their busy seasons. He and Jean also spent many happy winters at Fiesta Village in South Texas with other Iowa snowbirds.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jean; his daughter Donna Kozlowski and his granddaughter Laurie Larson Huikko. He is survived by his daughter Gail Welde of Littleton, CO; his sons John Gahan of McKinney, TX, and Bill Gahan of DesMoines, IA; six grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandsons.
A memorial is being planned for this spring. Schott Funeral Homes in Forest City, IA is assisting the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Donald Gahan
Sponsored by Schott Funeral Home - Forest City.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in Donald Gahan's name
Memorial Events
for Donald Gahan
Funeral services provided by:
Schott Funeral Home - Forest City505 North Clark Street, Forest City, IA 50436
How to support Donald's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Donald Gahan's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
