Donald (Colonel) Wayne Steadman
June 23, 2017
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Service Details
Don Steadman (November 23, 1931- June 23, 2017)
Between those years, Don lived a non-conventional life by his rules. He was born with a love for fun, a thirst for knowledge, and a need for adventure. He was an entrepreneur, owned Early Ford Parts, and participated at the world's largest swap meet in Hershey, PA for over 20 years. He loved to teach, to learn, and to debate. He had a penchant for providing nicknames to those he was fond of: Wilburnett Lee, Gilburnett Lee, Roylee, Doneen, Norman, Smiley, William, Dummy, High Heels, Sarge, XYZ, Jamaica Lady... If you had a nickname and it's not mentioned, know that it was an honor. Don was a loyal and life-long friend. He was proud to be a Catholic and never missed a mass.
He was proud to be a veteran of the US Army, loved his country, and actively promoted the Veterans Administration to help other veterans receive the services to which they were entitled. He made it his mission to attend every funeral of Iowa fallen soldiers from Desert Storm and OIF/OEF to show his respect until he was no longer able. We sometimes called him "Flag Patrol" because he would go into businesses and tell them when their flag was tattered and demand that they replace it. He was a jazz music fan and loved to hear Big Bands, especially Woody Herman, Stan Kenton and Count Basie. No one could win a game of "Name That Tune" against him.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Virginia Conklin, whom he shared 58 fun-filled and adventurous years. He is survived by family Jeanine (Roland) Minshall, Kevin (Kimber) Conklin, Joseph Bourne, Ryan Bourne, Alex Bourne, Dillon Minshall, Owen Minshall, Sean Conklin, and Emily Watson; and special friends, Tom Bickel and Carmel "Yvonne Bell". He was especially grateful to the staff at Veterans Administration for their friendship and caring during his illness. He and Virginia traveled throughout the Western Caribbean for almost sixty years and shared his love of the islands with all those who knew him.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2017, with visitation one hour prior, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines. Interment with military honors will take place at 12:30 p.m. at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter.
The family would appreciate online condolences and "Don stories" be shared at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
"CARRY ON"
Linda Billyard
07/03/2017
Alan made several trips to the Hershey swap meet and I went with him a couple of times after we got married. Traffic out there was really jammed up for those events, and I'll never forget more than once sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and Don saying "Alan, just honk and go on." He was quite a guy. He will be missed.
Rob Johnson
07/02/2017
July 1, 2017
In memory of Don Steadman
The Right Wally
My dad (Bob Johnson) was friends with Don from, I suppose, the early 50's. I can remember Don from when I was 7 or 8 years old. They had a mutual interest in the drag racing scene, old cars and cars in general. My dad took over management of the Des Moines Dragway in '62 and while I don't remember the year, Don became the announcer at the drag strip.
The announcer was in the tower at the strip, and the tower, close to the starting line, overlooked the strip, staging lanes, concession stands and much of the pit area. In the early years of operation I spent a lot of time in the tower with Don working the timing clocks and writing out the timing slips for the racers.
He was a good announcer. He would genuinely get excited about the races and come up with some unique and colorful description. Another interesting and fun thing about Don was that he called people by "pet" names. He would call my dad, Jim or Wally or sometimes Chief. He did it in such a way that no one minded, in fact more the opposite, it somehow connected with people.
Years later, in the summer of '66 or '67 I was working at different jobs at the strip and by then there were 10-12 people working at the strip. My dad had set up a walkie-talkie system for key personnel and Don had a walkie-talkie in the tower where he could coordinate activity and report on problems.
One weekend I asked my friend, Jim Hedlund, if he would like to come out to the strip with me. He was all for it and he was put to work in the tower running the time clocks and spent the day with Don. On this particular Sunday, Don, as he would do, was calling everyone Wally. Throughout the day he would get on the walkie-talkie and say,
"Wally come in, looks like a stalled car in the staging lanes."
Or, "Wally come in, need more dogs in concession 2."
Or, "Wally come in, might have a problem at the end of the strip."
Or, "Wally come in, fence jumpers at the west end."
It was a typical Sunday, and at the end of the day I went to the tower to get my friend and head for home. As we walked to the car Jim tells me how much fun it was . . . he really enjoyed it . . . liked being in the tower with Don.
And then he says, "Can I ask you somethin'?"
"Sure", I say, "What's that?"
Jim says, "You know how Don gets on the walkie-talkie, he always says Wally come in."
I say, "Yeah."
"Well", Jim says, "How does the right Wally know to come in?"
It's a question that puzzles me to this day. However, I do remember once in the tower when there was a problem and Don got on the walkie-talkie and said, "Wally come in." and the wrong Wally answered. Don was quite annoyed with this and said, "Not you Wally, the other Wally." In the next moment the right Wally answered and all was well.
Seretta (Jamica Lady)
06/29/2017
It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Steadman even for a short while I have learned to fight for whatever I want in life and to smile while doing it so thank you. And you will be missed and my condolences to your Family
Bob Johnson Family
06/28/2017
Don will always be remembered as a loyal friend who was always checking in on the family. Bob enjoyed his company - talking about cars and everything under the sun.
Dave Todd
06/28/2017
When I was a teenager, I bought old Ford parts from Don. He was always helpful to me, and never put me down for my old Ford which was NOT a pretty picture. I have never forgot Don in these past 40+ years, but I did lose contact with him. The Antique Ford people have lost a good man!! Rest in Peace Don!!!! I never knew Don was a Colonel, and that makes me respect him even more!!!!
Kimber Conklin
06/26/2017
I will miss you "Studman." Who else will quiz me on medical matters? Who will I argue religion with?