Don Anderson Billhorn passed away at the age of 90 on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Don was born on March 29, 1936, in his grandmother’s house in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Wilma and Alfred Billhorn. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1954 and enlisted in the Army in 1956. After basic training, he was stationed in Germany for 19 months, where he was a surveyor. He loved to talk about his travels and experiences while he was overseas, including driving one of the captains on a few occasions.
Don married Mary Lou Arneson on June 27, 1964, in Caledonia, Minnesota. They spent the early years of their marriage in Manchester before settling in Readlyn and raising their two girls, Carolyn and Jennifer. Don was a livestock buyer for Dubuque Packing Company. He retired as a maintenance supervisor for Bremwood Lutheran Services Children’s home. In his retirement, he enjoyed driving the school bus for the Wapsie Valley school district.
Don was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, where he taught Sunday School and served on the church council as a member and as president. He believed in serving others, and contributed to the community through several board memberships, including Readlyn city council, the Boy Scout council, ELCA NE Iowa Synod Council, Community Club, Readlyn Library Board, the Maple Hills Country Club board, the Bremer County extension council and condemnation board, along with a proud honor of being Readlyn’s 2007 Grump!
Don loved fishing in northern Minnesota each year with family and neighbors, and escaping on a twice-a-year guy’s trip to fish in Canada. Don loved history and enjoyed family trips to Civil War sites, and in retirement, he and Mary Lou traveled to places like Alaska, Nova Scotia, and Europe. They also spent time in southern Minnesota in their camper on Mary Lou’s family farm, giving the grandchildren a taste of early driving practice on their golf cart. He always enjoyed supporting all of the grandchildren in their many activities! We will miss his quick wit and sense of fun, from being the struggling student Ricky when his girls played school to his entertaining impressions. Don was proud to be a grandfather to six grandchildren and a great-grandfather to three great-grandchildren.
Don is deeply missed by his wife, Mary Lou, who he just celebrated 62 years of marriage with; daughters Carolyn (Allen) Lewis of Eldridge and Jennifer (Sean) Kastli of West Des Moines; grandchildren Nicholas, Carston, Collin, Madolyn, Addyson, and Griffin; great-grandchildren Lilith, Frederick, and Valerie. He’s survived by his brother Jon (Barb) Billhorn, DeWitt and many nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Wilma Billhorn; parents-in-law Eloys and Orlin Arneson; and sister and brother-in-law Lyle and Mary Ellen Lapham.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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