Donald Raymond Boss, 85, of Cedar Falls, died Friday evening, April 6, 2007, at the University Hospitals in Iowa City. He was born February 14, 1922, in White Plains, Missouri, the son of Walter and Maud Knisley Boss. He lived in various communities in Missouri and Iowa during his youth and graduated from the Reinbeck High School in 1939. In 1942 Don entered the United States Army Air Corps, where he achieved a rank of 1st Lieutenant. During his tenure in the Air Corps, Don served as a flight instructor stationed in California. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946.
Don married Bette Aileen Reece on April 25, 1946, in Waterloo. He and his wife were longtime residents of the Waterloo area. Don was a lead furniture sales associate at Davidson's in Waterloo, a real estate investor, and the first senior purchasing agent for the University of Northern Iowa. He was active in his community and a member of the Becker-Chapman American Legion Post No. 138, the Catholic Church, and various civic organizations. Through his real estate efforts, Don assisted many low income families in the Waterloo area to achieve their dreams of affordable housing. He provided both financial support and instructed families how to maintain their property to assure their houses became homes.
He is survived by his wife; four sons, Randy (Martha) Boss of Omaha, Nebraska, Terrill (Susan) Boss of Centreville, Virginia, Brian of Cedar Falls, and Daniel of Garland, Texas; ten grandchildren, Jennifer (Andy Behrens) Boss, Jeremiah (Tern) Boss and Brieanna Boss, all of Chicago, Illinois, Brett Boss of Centreville, Virginia, Brandon (Wendy) Boss of St Louis, Missouri, Brent (Shawn) Boss of Kansas City, Missouri, Brock Boss of Washington, D.C., Bridget Boss of England, and Bradley Boss and Bryce Boss, both of Omaha, Nebraska; and five great-granddaughters; as well as many friends and other relatives. Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at the Kearns, Huisman-Schumacher Chapel on Kimball with burial in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 3 to 6 p.m. today, Sunday, and an hour before services at the funeral home on Monday. Those who wish may direct memorials to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Copyright Waterloo Courier, April 8, 2007, page B4.