Donald "Joe" McCurnin

Donald "Joe" McCurnin, 80, formerly of Norwalk, passed away peacefully at Morningstar Senior Living Center in West Des Moines on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, surrounded by his family.
To honor and celebrate Joe's life, the family will receive family and friends between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. on June 28, 2025, at Echo Valley Country Club (3150 Echo Valley Dr., Norwalk, IA). Come enjoy a beverage and appetizer as we toast a life well lived. The family will inter his ashes alongside both his wife and parents at Ankeny Memorial Gardens via a private ceremony.
Joe was born on October 20, 1944, as the only child to Beatrice and Donald McCurnin. He grew up in a variety of Iowa towns. Pocahontas, Le Mars, Fort Dodge, and Martensdale were all places that were called home.
Even by his own standards, he had a very unremarkable scholastic career, but was able to graduate from Martensdale High School in 1962. Despite the poor scholastic marks, he was most adept at identifying the smartest and prettiest girl in class. He met Jane Frances Davitt in the early years of high school and a courtship ensued. It took him more than a few years to reel her in, but his greatest accomplishment occurred when he married Jane in Churchville, Iowa, in 1965. A family, five kids across an eight-year span, and a career with the Iowa Air National Guard were immediately underway.
For the next 55 years, and in splendid form, Joe and Jane piloted the "515 Gang" together until Jane's passing in 2020. Love was abundant in their Norwalk homes. Academic success was steadily encouraged, and they always found a way to provide the mitt and cleats, the shoes (basketball, tap, and ballet), the costumes, and the clubs, so that their children had opportunity on the ballfield, in the gymnasium, at the dance studio, and on the golf course. Their eyes were brightest when their home was filled with children, grandchildren, and other family. Jane delegated pie-making and all grill, griddle, and waffle iron work to Joe early in the journey. He excelled with these assignments. The 70s and 80s saw many informal Davitt Family Reunions at 4th of July celebrations at their home. He was the grill-master at each of these events. His grandchildren specifically loved the production from the waffle iron. High output and high quality were standards he could nail every time.
Joe's second greatest accomplishment was taking the pretty and smart girl to Florida for the winter. In retirement, Joe and Jane enjoyed nearly a decade of winters away from Iowa – it was a reward for all of that splendid hard work.
Joe's tendency, regardless of the role he was in, was to lead by example. He modeled life's greatest lessons every day. When his counsel or advice was sought or needed, he seemingly drew from a large reservoir of facts, logic, and considerate thought. It appears his lone sermon was a reminder that "the fair is in August"! His children will be forever grateful.
The United States Air Force lit a more studious behavior and taught him how to fly airplanes; he was a self-taught computer programmer. He was honored to be part of the 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing and 124th Fighter Squadron. He flew F-84, F-100, A-7D, C-12J, and C-26 aircraft across more than three decades in support of the 132nd and 124th. He liked to remind us that he had an equal number of take-offs and landings. If you are reading this and happen to wear or have worn the blue and green uniforms associated with the Iowa Air National Guard, Joe salutes you. In the late 80s and early 90s, Joe began to be intrigued at how the computer could assist Guard personnel in a variety of mission-related tasks. His assignments with the Guard, outside of piloting aircraft, allowed him to use the computer to better plan, schedule, and track mission readiness. Upon his Guard retirement in the early 2000s, he was able to step into the private sector and work successfully as a computer programmer.
Joe easily gravitated toward Guard mantras like "service before self" and "on time and on target" as they required a level of discipline and careful precision. He had an appetite for such challenges. As it turns out, discipline and careful precision extended to the pool table and golf course for Joe. He would label himself "proficient" in both of these recreational areas – his family would give him higher grades. He was still pursuing the well-struck golf shot and maneuvering for an eight-ball opportunity within days of his passing. He golfed all across the metro area for more than 50 years. The last five years of golf were spent at Echo Valley Country Club. At Echo Valley, he developed two late-in-life loves. The post-round beer, a cold Ruthie with a straw, came first. Right behind the cold beer was generally an inquiry about whether or not he needed a new golf shirt. He loved the pro shop and its merchandise. It was a joy to watch him treat himself in these small ways.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, and an infant child. He is survived by his children, Pat (Denise) of West Chester, OH, Mike (Julie) of Norwalk, IA, Brian (Debbie) of Laurel, DE, Annette (Jeff) DeFrancisco of Johnston, IA, and Michelle (Dan) Andrews of Ames, IA; twelve grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank all care team members at both Morningstar Senior Living and Wesley Life Hospice for their skill, care, and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joe's honor to Food Bank of Iowa (foodbankiowa.org), Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity (gdmhabitat.org), or United Way of Central Iowa (unitedwaydm.org).