Life Legacy

West Branch, Iowa

Donald Adrian Secrest of West Branch died Wednesday afternoon, May 24, 2017, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids after an extended illness. He was 82.

Visitation will be held at Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch on Tuesday, May 30, from 4 -7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in West Branch. Reverend Alexis Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in the West Branch cemetery. Memorials may be made to West Branch United Methodist Church or Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com.

Don was born March 14, 1935, in West Branch, Iowa, the son of Virgil “Pete” Howard Secrest and Lois Esther Gill Secrest. Don’s birthday, 3.14, mathematically speaking is “pi,” was often celebrated by eating pie. Don’s birth date may have contributed to his sweet tooth.

He graduated from West Branch High School in 1953. He attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa from 1954 to 1955, where he majored in agriculture. Then he served in the Army of the United States, and was stationed in Germany. After honorable discharge from the army, he attended State University of Iowa graduating in June, 1961 with a degree in business.

He married Carol Jean Dyer Foraker on December 25, 1965, at the West Branch Methodist Church.

Don’s career was in the grocery business. He started at the family grocery store, Secrest Royal Blue Foods, in West Branch, then worked at Jim’s in West Liberty, Randall’s in Iowa City, Mel’s Holiday Foods in North Liberty, and Hy-Vee on First Avenue in Iowa City. He forged many long-lasting friendships throughout his life, and will be remembered for his friendly nature and quick, contagious, heart-felt laugh. When he wasn’t working, he mowed yards and shoveled snow in his neighborhood, and chatted with his neighbors who were also his good friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, in 2012. He is survived by two siblings, Maryann Crew (and her husband Clarence) of West Branch, and Bruce Secrest (and his wife Pat) of Houston, Texas, two daughters, Diane Peden (and her husband Brad) of North Liberty, Iowa, Elaine Miller (and her husband Travis) of Friendship, Wisconsin, and five grandchildren, Cooper Secrest-Seelman, Noah Peden, Eli Peden, Emma Miller, and Ayden Miller.