Donald "Don" Henry McClain, 85, of Leawood, Kansas (formerly a 50-year resident of Iowa City, Iowa), died on Friday, October 7, 2022, following a fall at his home and complications from Alzheimer's Disease.
Don was a kind, patient, and loving husband, father, grandfather, and pet parent. He was also a well-liked professor at the University of Iowa.
He was born on August 29, 1937, to Walter W. McClain and Myrtle H. (Huffman) McClain in Waterloo, Iowa. Don graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1955 and from Iowa State Teachers' College (currently The University of Northern Iowa) in 1960 with a major in Mathematics. He worked his way through college at Nash Finch, John Deere and Rath Packing Company. He taught school in Aplington and Independence, Iowa.
In 1964 he entered Iowa State University where he earned a master's degree in Mathematics and a PhD in Education with an emphasis in Computer Science.
On May 29, 1965, He married Janet Elaine Poeppey and remained faithfully married until his death.
Don joined the faculty of the University of Iowa in the fall of 1970 as an Assistant Professor in Computer Science. He later moved to the Weeg Computing Center where he became an Assistant Director. He retired in 2002 from Information Technology Services and became an Adjunct Professor in Computer Science where he taught for an additional ten years before fully retiring in 2012.
Don was involved with the Johnson County Humane Society, Iowa City, Iowa, for over 40 years. He became a Master Gardener in 2014 after many years of gardening and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, Iowa.
He is survived by his wife Janet, his son David Nathaniel McClain (and his girlfriend Heather M. Shafer), his daughter Sarah Katherine McClain Cassias, his two grandsons Quinn Joseph Cassias and Charlie David Cassias, a sister-in-law Janet McClain, a brother-in-law Ken Kellhofer, and his beloved cats, Jacob, Jonah and Hannah.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Phyllis Shephard, Mardelle Ostrander, Garnet Eggleston, Flavelle Woodyard, Jane Kellhofer and Linda Hill, his brother Ron McClain, and his many pet dogs and cats.
Don will be interred at Memorial Park Cemetery in Waterloo, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers his family asks that those wishing to express condolences consider a donation to either the Cedar Valley Humane Society, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (https://www.cvhumane.org) or the
Alzheimer's Association (http://www.alz.org).
Locke on 4th is in charge of arrangements.