Don Veitch, Citizen of the Year

Veitch honored as 2004 Citizen of the Year
Cited for his quiet, unassuming leadership
By Paula Buenger, Publisher

While 2004 Citizen of the Year Don Veitch may argue that what he's done for the community of Spencer and the groups he's been involved with is "Not a big thing" the authors of the many letters of nomination which poured into the offices of the Daily Reporter would argue otherwise.
"Don is a person who works 'behind the scenes' and is very humble about his contributions to Spencer and its various organizations," read the nomination letter from Everett and Verlie Amis.
"Not one to stand in the spotlight, more like the person who installed the spotlight and is now operating it," is how Jay Prather of Spencer described Veitch in his nomination letter.
Veitch was honored for his contributions to the Parker Historical Society, Iowa Great Lakes Antique Car Club, Masonic Lodge, Shriners and his church. Veitch, a lifelong resident of the area, joins the list of distinguished residents who have earned the title "Citizen of the Year" since the program' s inception in 1967. Each year's honoree is selected from nominations sent in by individuals and groups. The past Citizens of the Year select the new member who will join their ranks. Don Veitch was born and raised in Greenville. In April 1941, he left to serve his country in the Army during World War II. During that service, he was captured and was a POW in a German camp for 27 months.
In a story, published in the Feb. 5 edition of The Daily Reporter, Veitch recounted his time in German POW camps as a young soldier.
One of his first calls, upon being released, was to his sweetheart, Dorothy, whom he had met several months before going into the war. She had been staying with relatives in Oregon and working through the war years, but returned after Don was released. The couple married on July 12, 1945, and will celebrate their 60th anniversary this summer.
And, as all those who know the Veitchs can attest, the pair became a very good team, working together on a wide range of activities.
"They have always done everything together," said Pat Anderson, the couple's daughter, who lives in Spirit Lake with her husband Eric. "If there is something going on, they just have to be a part of it. They don't want to just go to events, they want to help put things together."
Luckily, the pair shared an interest in the Masonic Lodge and Shrine organizations. Dorothy was "always involved" in Eastern Star, said her daughter, and the couple acted as Rainbow Parents for many years.
Clay County Fair-goers may not know the Veitch name, but they probably recognize the faces. After all, the couple began the Shrine ATV Funnel Cake stand at the fair, and worked as a team during the entire run of the fair in the stand for many, many years.
"They had gone to Hot Springs, Ark. on a trip and tasted funnel cakes," recounts Anderson. "They decided that was what the Clay County Fair needed."
So, the industrious pair made a second trip to Hot Springs, learned how to make the then-new item, and set up the Shrine stand.
"They just loved it," smiled Pat. "They met so many people at the fair and, I think now that they aren't at the fair every day they really miss it."
Don's membership in the Masonic Lodge and with the Shriners echoes his style in everything, according to those who know him well. He was a dedicated, hard-working, loyal member, who didn't look for the spotlight.
Don and Everett Amis have been acquainted for many, many years, as both Everett and Don grew up in Greenville. Their love of cars, old cars to be specific, has ensured that they have remained close.
"My dad has always been interested in cars," said his daughter. "And, he's always got quite a few of them, in various stages of repair."
Veitch's employment, as a distributor for Wynn's, an automotive additive company, meant that he was immersed in the auto world.
"It just seems like he's always had one taken apart somewhere," Pat laughed. "In fact, for years he had one by the hedge at our house."
Veitch took that interest in cars a step farther, as a charter member of the Iowa Great Lakes Car Club. He served as secretary/treasurer for many years and has assisted with exhibits and displays of cars throughout the area and participated in many parades.
L.R. "Pete" Petersen has worked with Veitch in many groups throughout the years, and in his nomination he pointed to Veitch's quiet leadership and service.
Whatever organization he belongs to he is not only a very active member, but he does, through unselfish acts, those things which many of us think about doing but never quite get done," wrote Petersen. "The only people who know of these deeds are Don, God, and oh yes, probably his wife Dorothy."
Along with sharing interests in Masonic Orders and antique cars, Petersen has served with Veitch on the board of the Parker Historical Society.
Daughter Pat said that interest most likely grew out of her father's love of going to auctions and sales.
"He's always been a great antiquer," she said. "And, when Dad was interested in something, it just seemed like he had to be a part of it."
According to Cindy McGranahan, Parker Museum Director, Veitch has been involved with the Parker Historical Society since he joined in 1973. Never one to be content simply with belonging to an organization, Veitch soon found himself deeply involved, joining the board of directors of the society in 1975. He became president of the society in 1977.
"Not only has Don been present and willing to help with many events since 1973, but he has also been a terrific cheerleader and supporter of the Parker Historical Society," said McGranahan. "His 'can-do' and 'let's move ahead' attitude has been extremely valuable, as the Society has transitioned from an all-volunteer group to a business."
While Veitch officially "retired" as a distributor for Wynn's at the age of 80, Pat said he remains involved, albeit to a lesser extent than in previous years. The job, which involved travel throughout the region, meant the Veitch family was welcome just about everywhere.
"He knows people everywhere," she said. "And even now, he'll get in the car and head to Des Moines for the day for meetings."
He also put his travel expertise to good use assisting families in taking children to the Shriners Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. "That's always been a big interest of his."
He and Dorothy have also traveled farther afield. As recently as two years ago, the couple joined an all-Veitch tour through Scotland. The Veitch's second child, son George, lives on the big island of Hawaii with his wife, area native Leann McGranahan, so the family has had another exotic locale to visit.
Pat agrees with many of those who nominated her father in saying that he will be surprised to find himself honored as Citizen of the Year.
"I think he's going to be totally shocked, totally dumbfounded," she laughed. "He sure won't think he deserves it at all." McGranahan agrees.
"Don won't believe it," she said. "He will feel that there is someone else but there more deserving. But, isn't that really what makes him a perfect Citizen of the Year? He deserves this so much."
© Copyright 2009, Spencer Daily Reporter
Story URL: http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1551763.html

Don Veitch, Great Uncle and Great Man

My great uncle Don Veitch passed away today. He and his brother Stub have both been fighting cancer for awhile now. Don and Stub are both amazing individuals, and they where very good friends. Following the photo is the newspaper article and his obituary as featured in the Spencer Daily Reporter.



2004 'Citizen of the Year' Veitch passes
Thursday, July 2, 2009
By Randy M. Cauthron, Managing Editor
Just a month before he was named the 2004 Spencer "Citizen of the Year," Don Veitch was interviewed and shared a philosophy that identified the kind of person he was: "There are no bad days. Some days are just better than others."
Wednesday, Spencer lost one of its icons. Veitch, 91, passed away at Spencer Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending at Warner Funeral Home of Spencer.
Veitch was honored as Citizen of the Year for his contributions to the Parker Historical Society, Iowa Great Lakes Antique Car Club, Masonic Lodge, Shriners and his church.
The native of Greenville, was drafted just before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Anticipating just a one-year obligation as a draftee at the time, things changed following the bombing of the military base in Hawaii, and Veitch found himself in the midst of World War II. He served in various combat situations until February 1943 when he and others were captured by German soldiers and held as prisoners of war. He escaped once, but was detained once again, remaining a POW until being liberated at the tail end of the war in May 1945.
Veitch returned to Greenville on July 4, 1945. As soon as Veitch arrived home, he telephoned his girlfriend, Dorothy, in Oregon. The two had initially met about five months before he was drafted. They continued to correspond by way of letter during his tour of duty.
The two married July 12.
Additionally, Don and Dorothy -- recognized by many who knew them as quite a dynamic duo -- acted as Rainbow Parents for many years.
Clay County Fair-goers may not know the Veitch name, but they probably recognize the faces. After all, the couple began the Shrine ATV Funnel Cake stand at the fair, and worked as a team during the entire run of the fair in the stand for many, many years.
His employment, as a distributor for Wynn's, an automotive additive company, meant that he was immersed in the auto world. Don took that interest in cars a step further, as a charter member of the Iowa Great Lakes Car Club. He served as secretary/treasurer for many years and has assisted with exhibits and displays of cars throughout the area and participated in many parades.
"Whatever organization he belongs to he is not only a very active member, but he does, through unselfish acts, those things which many of us think about doing but never quite get done," wrote L.R. "Pete" Petersen in his Citizen of the Year letter of nomination of Don. "The only people who know of these deeds are Don, God, and oh yes, probably his wife Dorothy."
According to Cindy McGranahan, Parker Museum director, Veitch had been involved with the Parker Historical Society since he joined in 1973.
"Not only has Don been present and willing to help with many events since 1973, but he has also been a terrific cheerleader and supporter of the Parker Historical Society," said McGranahan in 2005. "His 'can-do' and 'let's move ahead' attitude has been extremely valuable, as the Society has transitioned from an all-volunteer group to a business."

Donald Veitch
Friday, July 3, 2009
Funeral services for Mr. Donald Veitch, 91, of Spencer, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2009 at First Christian Church of Spencer. Rev. Dan Mayes will officiate the service.
Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at the Warner Chapel at Spencer.
Interment will take place at North Lawn Memorial Park in Spencer. Military services will be conducted by Glen Pedersen Post No. 1 of Spencer.
A Masonic service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, at the Warner Funeral Home.
Mr. Veitch passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at Spencer Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Christian Church, Relay For Life and Hospice of NW Iowa.
Donald George Veitch, the son of George Leslie and Vennetta Eldora Mitchell Veitch, was born May 24, 1918 in Greenville. His childhood years were spent in Greenville where he received his education, graduating from Greenville High School. Don later attended a business school in Grand Island, Neb., for two years. After his schooling, he entered the military and served with the U.S. Army during WW II from April 1941 until his honorable discharge in September 1945. During his military duty, Don was a POW in Germany for over two years.
Donald married Dorothy Henry on July 12, 1945, in Spencer. Following their marriage, they lived in Spencer where he was a self-employed salesman for Wynn's Friction Proofing and Don Veitch Distributing for many years until his retirement. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Spencer. Donald was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, Order of The Eastern Star as well as the Iowa Great Lakes Car Club. He was also a member of Glen Pedersen Post No. 1, American Legion of Spencer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one granddaughter, Teresa Ann Lang in 1966.
Donald is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Spencer; one daughter, Patricia Anderson and her husband, Eric of Spirit Lake; one son, George Veitch and his wife, LeAnn McGranahan of Papaaloa, Hawaii; one granddaughter; three great-grandchildren; two brothers: Carroll Veitch of Spencer, and Terry Veitch and his wife, Nira of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters: Marjean Gulizia of Omaha, Neb., and Janet Leach and her husband, Bob of Dickinson, Texas; and a special friend, Joan Waller of Spencer.
Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.
© Copyright 2009, Spencer Daily Reporter
Story URL: http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1552142.html

Jill As Furniture

Cat's have no respect for their owners.

Our cats seem to regard us as furniture.


You can't sleep anywhere without a cat on top of you.


If you do manage to get some sleep without a cat on you they just might steal your pillow.

Meet Munchkin

After spending a couple of weeks hiding either under the bed or in the basement, Muchkin has emerged.

Munchkin is a very timid but also very bitchy. She still spends most of the time hiding, but she sometimes ventures out to sit guard by the cat food. She is very passive/aggressive. She just sits there intimidating the other two cats looking all sweet and innocent.



She is a pretty little cat, kind of a dirty white color with super thick softy fur. When she isn't hiding or guarding the cat food she is very insistent that should be petted. If she sees a hand that isn't petting her she just might attack it.



Munchkin and Moe get along just fine since Moe doesn't care about anything. Sweetie and Munchkin are another story. They have daily spats, and constantly growl & hiss at each other. I hope that they start getting along better soon.