CLEAR LAKE - Donnelle Clayton Frye, 86, of Clear Lake and Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Dows, passed away Friday (Sept. 25, 20o9) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City due to complications from cancer.

Funeral services for Donnelle Frye will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the United Methodist Church in Dows with Pastor Kalen Fristad presiding. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Dows.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Dugger Funeral Home in Dows.

Don was born Sept. 25, 1923, in Popejoy, the son of Ray and Berenice (Hilton) Frye. Don graduated from Dows High School in 1940 and served in the United States Army's Third Infantry Division in World War II from March 1943 to November 1945. He was awarded five major battle medals during his journey through North Africa and Europe.

On June 6, 1947, Don married Elaine Erickson and raised six children on the family farm.

Don farmed his entire life, enjoyed woodworking and gardening and ran the Belmond Sales Pavilion with his father. Don enjoyed working the fall harvest driving the combine after his retirement. Don took up the game of golf in his mid-50s and treasured this in addition to the friendships that he made in Dows, Clear Lake and Fort Myers. Don was a life member of the Forest Country Club in Fort Myers at the time of his death.

Don is a member of the Dows United Methodist Church and a past director of the Dows Farmer's Cooperative for 19 years, of Boone Valley Cooperative for two years and a founding director of AGP Inc. in Eagle Grove.

He is survived by his children, Debra (Robert) Bookman of Houston, Texas, Ray Frye of Webster City, Renee Ransom of Houston, Texas, Jeffrey (Sherri) Frye of Fort Dodge, Richard (Susan) Frye of Altoona, and Douglas (Anita) Frye of Dows. Grandchildren include Marek and Robert (Amber) Bookman, Kristen (Wes) Newton and Brian Frye, Ryan and Stacy Ransom, Heather Frye, Kelly, Colin and Eric Frye, and Zachary and Mariah Frye. Great-grandchildren include Ashley and Jordan Newton.

Don is also survived by his sister, Jean Winegar of West Des Moines, and Betty Jane McClenahan of Belmond. Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Elaine (Erickson), in 1982 and his second wife, A. Joan (Walker), in 1999 and by his parents, Ray Frye in 1990 and Berenice Frye in 1996.

Don's close friend and neighbor for the past nine years was Margaret Logan of Fort Myers, Fla.

Dugger Funeral Home, Dows.