Donald "Duck" Combs

Donald Dean "Duck" Combs was born February 14, 1937 in Redding, Iowa to John Edman and Freda Jameson Combs. He passed away December 26, 2023. Right after his birth, Don was given the nickname, Duck, by a fun-loving uncle in reference to Donald Duck, the cartoon character introduced by Walt Disney in the same year. Duck grew up on farms in rural Ringgold and Taylor counties, where he developed a love for the outdoors and sports. His passion for sports, hunting, fishing, bird-dogs, and appreciation of nature were encouraged by his family and remained with him throughout his life. Don graduated from Clearfield High School in 1955, where he excelled in baseball and basketball. On June 24, 1956, he married Judy Stewart at Prescott, Iowa. They are the parents of two sons, Jeffery and Victor. Don and Judy worked together to earn college degrees from Northwest Missouri State University. Don received a B.S. in secondary education with a major in social studies in 1961 and earned a M.S. in physical education in 1971. During his college years and several years after, Don enjoyed playing semi-pro softball on Maryville, Missouri, teams. Don started a 35-year teaching/coaching career at Prescott, Iowa. After two years he returned to Missouri so Judy could finish college. He taught and coached three years at North Nodaway at Hopkins, Missouri; nine years at South Page at College Springs, Iowa; and 21 years at Davis County in Bloomfield, Iowa. He taught American history and other social studies courses and taught many students to drive. During his coaching career, he coached nearly all sports. He was a head boys basketball coach from 1961-1990. Don was a fierce competitor and coached like he played. The teams he coached were known for their excellent physical condition, hustle, competitive spirit, and "never-give-up” style of play. Teams he coached at North Nodaway, South Page and Davis County won many conference championships in basketball, track, and baseball. Boys basketball teams he coached were state tournament contenders four times –– at North Nodaway in 1964 in Missouri; then in 1977, 1982, and 1983 at Davis County in Iowa. Don was inducted into the Iowa Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992. Don was an avid Cardinals baseball fan. At his first major league game, when he was a kid, he got Stan Musial’s autograph. Musial was his idol from then on. Don passed his love of sports and active participation to both his sons. Don loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout his life. An environment where there was upland game habitat was a priority in choosing communities to live. His passion was quail hunting with his English pointer and German shorthair dogs that he raised and trained. He hunted ducks many years with buddies from Missouri and enjoyed several fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada. As the years passed by, Duck was dismayed to see the natural environment change to the point wildlife was disappearing throughout the country. Starting in 1988, he and Judy purchased the first of three parcels of land in Davis County. They established many conservation practices, planted thousands of trees, re-established prairie grasses, built ponds and restored two log cabins from the mid-1800s. Duck enjoyed sharing the cabin farm with friends and especially with his grandchildren. Don collected firearms and sporting collectibles his entire adult life. He specialized in Winchester Model 12 and Model 42 shotguns. In recent years, he built a collection of Remington Model 12 rifles. Ever the competitor, he started creating displays and competing in gun shows. His displays included related accoutrements and advertising that he constantly searched to find. These displays won many awards at major gun shows throughout the country, including "Best of Show" five times with five different displays at the prestigious Colorado Trophy Show in Denver. In 1990, he collaborated with Ned Schwing to publish the book “The Model 42 Winchester,” that featured many of his 42s and has become a well-known reference for collectors. Duck was a life member of the National Rifle Association, longtime member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, the Winchester Arms Collectors, the Remington Society of America, as well as several other associations. For many years he was active in Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, and Ducks Unlimited. He was a 61-year member of Circle Lodge Number 555, A.F. and A.M, in Prescott, Iowa. Don was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law and two brothers-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons, Jeffery (Janaina) of Stockton, CA, and Victor (Michelle) of Pulaski, IA; three grandchildren, Hannah Combs Harris (Jack) of Los Angeles, CA, Regan Combs of San Diego, CA, and Roman Combs of Ames, IA; sister, Donna Mae Hiatt of Grant City, MO; sister-in-law Marilyn Routh of Whiting, IA: a niece and several nephews. Duck was a people person. He loved interacting with people of all ages whether he knew them or not. He gleaned information from "old-timers" and fellow collectors as he sought them out at gun shows and auctions. In recent years he enjoyed making new friends with members of the Amish community, who were a great source of strength in his final months. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at the Davis County High School in Bloomfield with Pastor Jim Wakelin officiating. Burial will be at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield. Visitation will begin at noon on Friday at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield with the family present to greet friends from 5-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Davis County A Club, Davis County Conservation, or Good Samaritan Hospice in Ottumwa.

Donald "Duck" Combs

February 14, 1937 - December 26, 2023