Donald "Don" Gene Werner

STOW - Donald Gene Werner Don, age 85, passed away on April 13, 2022, in Hudson, Ohio after a brief illness. Don was born on March 9, 1937, in Clinton, Iowa, to Viola and John A. Werner, along with a twin sister, LaDonna. He graduated from Clinton High School in 1956 and soon after, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served on active duty for the next four years. While in the service, he was a storekeeper. For two years, he was aboard a cargo ship, the U.S.S. Whiteside (Pacific Fleet). He spent one year on Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific. His final year was spent on San Nicolas Island off the coast of California. Don enjoyed his time in the service and was honorably discharged in June 1959. Entering civilian life, he went to work for EB Wiggins Oil Toll Company in Los Angeles, California. He started as their mail boy, delivering company mail to the thirteen different buildings on the company’s campus. Don worked his way up to become their production control manager for the ground to air electronic connectors used in the Polaris Missile Program for the U.S. Government. After working at Wiggins, he decided to relocate back to Clinton, Iowa where he was employed by the Chicago Northwestern railroad supply department. He started out loading boxcars for the Material Distribution Center on Camanche Ave. in Clinton. He was then promoted to Storekeeper and transferred to Chadron, Nebraska, where he spent 5 years. He was then transferred back to Clinton, Iowa and was promoted to Material Distribution Manager at that facility. He worked in Clinton at the Chicago North Western Material Management location until his retirement. Don married Kay H. (Kelly) Starns of Clinton, Iowa on April 7, 1972. On that day, they joined their two families, each having two boys and a girl from previous marriages. Don was preceded in death by his parents: John and Viola Werner; his three older brothers, Raymond Vogel, Kenneth Vogel, and John A. Werner, Jr., and two of his sons: Steven Starns Werner (d. 2001) and Laine Alan Werner (d. 2015). Don is survived by his wife: Kay H. (Kelly) Starns Werner, currently of Aurora, Ohio, and his twin sister, LaDonna (Werner) Hartmann, (husband, Christian David Hartmann), of Annandale, Virgina; four children: Dawn (Werner) Brandenburg of Denver, Colorado; Randy Starns Werner (wife, Sue) of Hudson, Ohio; Kary Werner of Harpers Ferry, Iowa, and Brenda Starns (Werner) Lopez (husband, Ken), of Apple River, Illinois. Don is also survived by thirteen grandchildren: Allynne Werner Brandenburg of Denver, Colorado; Alyson (Werner) Zuzolo (husband, Phil) of Hudson, Ohio; Mackenzie Starns (wife, Liz) of Ashtabula, Ohio; Courtney (Werner) Zedaker (husband, Alan) of Aurora, Ohio; Ryan Cleary (wife, Amy) of Mason, Ohio; Chad Werner (wife, Cheri) of Boise, Idaho; Stephanie Werner of St. Charles, Missouri; Andrew Werner of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Katie Werner and Kara Werner (husband, Chukwudi Njoku) of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Kelly (Lopez) Von Obstfelder (husband, Ben) of Wauconda, Illinois; Megan Lopez of Scottsdale, Arizona; Ryan Lopez (husband, Joan Guiscafre) of Mallorca, Spain; as well as twelve great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, all of them much loved. There will be no services at this time. If desired, donations can be made to Camp Courageous, 12007 190th Street, P.O. Box 418, Monticello, IA 52310.