Obituary of Don Gordon Hill

Donald Gordon Hill was born October 26, 1927 on the family farm in rural Estherville, Iowa. He graduated from Maple Hill High School in 1945, Estherville Junior College (AA) in 1954, Iowa State Teachers College (BA) in 1956 and Iowa State Teachers College (MA) in 1960. He served in the Iowa National Guard from 1949 to 1964, with a call to active duty in German from 1950 to 1952. On December 19, 1954 Don was united in marriage to Marcia Mae Partello at Estherville. During his career, Don was a teacher, coach, school administrator, college professor and gentleman farmer. During these years the family lived in Cedar Falls, Latimer, Gillette Grove, Estherville and Spirit Lake. He was active in his community serving as member of Estherville VFW, President of Estherville Rotary, member of Spirit Lake Morning Kiwanis President of Estherville Gideon Camp and Northwest Iowa Area Director of Gideon's International. He also served as Estherville School Board member, Estherville City Council member and Sunday School Superintendent. He coached high school basketball, baseball, and softball, was a longtime Cleveland Indians fan, read and watched western books and movies, and enjoyed spending time with his family and living on Big Spirit Lake. In retirement he mentored student teachers and taught adult education courses for Buena Vista College. Don died on April 17 at Veteran's Hospital in Sioux Falls from complication of diabetes. Surviving are his wife , Marcia; daughters, Holly Hansen (Steven) of Estherville, IA and Sherry West (Steven) of Roberts, WI; sons, Thomas Hill (Kimberly) of Chapel Hill, NC and Mark Hill of State College, PA; 11 grandchildren; one great grandchild, Aubree Hansen; and siblings, Wylma Romine of Spirit Lake, Florence Howell of Omaha, NE and James E. Hill Jr. of LaVista, NE. In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Robert and Russell and sister, Rhodabell Hawkins. Memorials may be given to Gideon's International or First Presbyterian Church, Spirit Lake.