Donald Simons

Donald Steven Simons

Donald Steven Simons, 88, Topeka, died Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 14, 1915, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Josephine Kies Simons. He attended public schools in Alexandria, S.D., and served in the Army in the 737 Tank Battalion during World War II, where he was awarded the Silver Star. He had lived in Topeka most of his life. Mr. Simons was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, Iron Workers Union No. 10, Philip Billard Post No. 1650 of the VFW and Capitol Post No. 1 of the American Legion. He married Annette Alma Shelley on May 22, 1961, in Lyons. She died July 31, 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Debra Singleton, Topeka; two sons, Del Weltzin, Minneapolis, Minn., and David L. Weltzin, Lindsborg; a brother, Cletus Simons, Topeka; four sisters, JoAnn Kuennen, Hazel Kussatz and Monica Cain, all of Waterloo, Iowa, and Arlene Bresson, in California; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends. Funeral services w ill be at 10 a.m. Friday at Hope Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Topeka Cemetery, where Post No. 1650 of the VFW will conduct military honors. Mr. Simons will lie in state after 2 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel in North Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice House of Topeka, 1033 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, 66604.