Donald Lowell Hillbrant, 86, died in an auto accident Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, northwest of Iola. He was born in Iola, the son of John and Edna (Heath) Hillbrant.
During his days in high school, he worked for Mr. Roy and Nora Sleeper. He enjoyed working in the furniture business and mortuary. Working at Sleepers, he learned the joy of giving and so the growing continued.
Donald befriended many people during his life’s travels. When his parents moved to a farm west of Iola, he became educated about growing and raising cattle. But the heavy work of haying damaged his back, causing him to re-direct his life.
He attended college in Springfield, Mo., where he received a BA degree from Evangel University and then a master’s from Drury College. He worked on his Ph.D. in education at KU. He taught 35 years at the General Douglas MacArthur Elementary School in Leavenworth.
Donald became involved with Latin America missions and made a number of trips to help out those countries.
Flowers and trees were blessed by Donald’s care, and he quite often shared plants that he grew.
Donald was preceded in death by a nephew, Miles Kessinger, and his sister, Doris.
He is survived by a multitude of cousins.
A visitation will be between 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Services will be at 12:30 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Iola. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery in Iola.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the College of the Ozarks, and may be left at the funeral home. To sign the guest book online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Donald Hillbrant
