Donald Lee Mohr

Donald Lee Mohr, 74, passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Donald was born on September 21, 1948, to Mary Lou (Manbeck) Mohr and Willard Mohr in Las Angeles, California. Mary Lou and Willard were originally from Des Moines and the family moved back home when Don was about 2.

He attended Des Moines Public Schools, graduating from East High. He attended college at Grand View and also AIB and worked at Forman Ford Glass Company as a draftsman. Later he owned a transportation company and he and his crews delivered the Des Moines Register and Tribune and Wall Street Journal around the state for further distribution daily. He continued the company until he retired. Don has one daughter, Melissa Marie Thompson who resides in Des Moines, Iowa.

Don met his wife, Ofelia, online while she was trying to learn English and somehow Don was on the site - maybe he was trying to learn Romanian. They communicated back and forth for some time. They met in 2003, and Don went to visit in Romania and spent 6 weeks there in June of that year. Again, he visited in November, and he proposed to Ofelia. She was able to get a fiancée visa and came to the United States in April of 2004, and they were married in Las Vegas on June 30, 2004. She began to work here with a work visa and applied for and studied and became a citizen of the United States. They were married for almost 20 years. He loved to spend time in Romania.

Don loved to fish and had a lifelong love for the family cabin on Lake Hattie in northern Minnesota. There were many fun family times there each summer. Usually, it was Don's mom and dad Mary Lou and Willard, his grandparents Edith and Jim Manbeck, Mary Lou’s cousin Dorothy and her husband Leonard, and their girls Janice and Alberta. Mary Lou and Dorothy had a special bond, they were about the same age and went all through school together and were more like sisters. Don, Jan and Alberta could get into a lot of different kinds of trouble, but Lake Hattie was special to all of them. Needless to say, fun was had, and everyone survived their time together and many memories were made. Don and Ofelia spent time there last summer.

Don was preceded in death by his grandparents Jim and Edith Manbeck, his parents Mary Lou and Willard Mohr, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Donald will be laid to rest Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313.

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