1915
Donald
2014
Donald Searles
April 25, 1915 — February 9, 2014
Funeral Services for Donald Searles of Albert Lea, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, February 14, at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Todd Walsh will officiate. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 13 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour prior to the service at Grace Lutheran Church. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery, Albert Lea. Military Honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran's Organizations.
Mr. Searles died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, at St. John's Lutheran Home, in Albert Lea. He was 98 years old.
Don was born April 25, 1915, in Tiffin, Ohio, the son of D. Raymond and Olephia (McDonald) Searles. He graduated from high school in Tiffin, Ohio, attended Heidelberg College, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in chemical engineering. He was very active and enjoyed his affiliation with Sigma Chi Fraternity. He took his Navy flight training at Purdue University, and went on to become a Navy flight instructor during World War II, ending his military service in Dec., 1945. Don applied his chemical engineering background in working for U.S.
Gypsum Co. and the DeVilbiss Co. He was united in marriage to Pauline Gerber on April 1, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. While working as a traveling salesman for G.P. Gundlach, Co., selling advertising promotion and ingredients to small dairies, he moved his family to Albert Lea, where he and Pauline lived until 1972. During that time, Don continued to be on the road, but selling for various companies including Nashville Display Company. In 1972, they purchased and operated the Hillcrest Motel in Eau Claire, WI. They later stayed in Eau Claire, but continued to live there in retirement. Don and Polly moved back to Albert Lea in August of 1998, to live together at St. John's Lutheran Home. Don enjoyed woodworking fishing, hunting, good food, listening to music, telling stories and socializing. He is survived by daughter Mary Rollins and husband David of Nashville, TN.; son Bill and wife Pat of Albert Lea; three grandsons, Kent Rollins and his children Max, Mia and Ava of Nashville, TN, Steven Rollins and wife Molly and their children Boyd, Paul and Matt of Nashville, TN, Robert Rollins and his wife Elena, and their children Chloe and Phillip, of Nashville, TN; four granddaughters, Rebecca Rollins of Atlanta, GA, Annie Searles and husband Nick of Minneapolis, MN, Michelle Searles and her children Anya and Zavie, of San Diego, CA., Erin Brennan and her children Eva and Mila of St. Paul, MN; two step grandsons, Troy Christiansen and wife Lisa and their children Taylor and Calli of rural Northwood, IA, Shannon Christiansen and wife Lori and their daughter Sadie of Kasson, MN; and two step granddaughters, Marnie Mueller and husband Mike and their children, Samantha, Dylan and Brooke of rural Manly, IA, and Natalie Hewitt and her husband Josh and their children Hanna and Jackson of Rochester, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, twin aunts Clara and Ella Searles, father-in-law William Gerber, mother-in-law Elsie Gerber, and wife Pauline. Don was a loving father, husband, grandfather and great grandfather, and will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.
Mr. Searles died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, at St. John's Lutheran Home, in Albert Lea. He was 98 years old.
Don was born April 25, 1915, in Tiffin, Ohio, the son of D. Raymond and Olephia (McDonald) Searles. He graduated from high school in Tiffin, Ohio, attended Heidelberg College, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in chemical engineering. He was very active and enjoyed his affiliation with Sigma Chi Fraternity. He took his Navy flight training at Purdue University, and went on to become a Navy flight instructor during World War II, ending his military service in Dec., 1945. Don applied his chemical engineering background in working for U.S.
Gypsum Co. and the DeVilbiss Co. He was united in marriage to Pauline Gerber on April 1, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. While working as a traveling salesman for G.P. Gundlach, Co., selling advertising promotion and ingredients to small dairies, he moved his family to Albert Lea, where he and Pauline lived until 1972. During that time, Don continued to be on the road, but selling for various companies including Nashville Display Company. In 1972, they purchased and operated the Hillcrest Motel in Eau Claire, WI. They later stayed in Eau Claire, but continued to live there in retirement. Don and Polly moved back to Albert Lea in August of 1998, to live together at St. John's Lutheran Home. Don enjoyed woodworking fishing, hunting, good food, listening to music, telling stories and socializing. He is survived by daughter Mary Rollins and husband David of Nashville, TN.; son Bill and wife Pat of Albert Lea; three grandsons, Kent Rollins and his children Max, Mia and Ava of Nashville, TN, Steven Rollins and wife Molly and their children Boyd, Paul and Matt of Nashville, TN, Robert Rollins and his wife Elena, and their children Chloe and Phillip, of Nashville, TN; four granddaughters, Rebecca Rollins of Atlanta, GA, Annie Searles and husband Nick of Minneapolis, MN, Michelle Searles and her children Anya and Zavie, of San Diego, CA., Erin Brennan and her children Eva and Mila of St. Paul, MN; two step grandsons, Troy Christiansen and wife Lisa and their children Taylor and Calli of rural Northwood, IA, Shannon Christiansen and wife Lori and their daughter Sadie of Kasson, MN; and two step granddaughters, Marnie Mueller and husband Mike and their children, Samantha, Dylan and Brooke of rural Manly, IA, and Natalie Hewitt and her husband Josh and their children Hanna and Jackson of Rochester, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, twin aunts Clara and Ella Searles, father-in-law William Gerber, mother-in-law Elsie Gerber, and wife Pauline. Don was a loving father, husband, grandfather and great grandfather, and will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Searles, please visit our flower store.