Reverend Dr. Donald Dean Calhoun

Rev. Dr. Donald Dean Calhoun, 93, passed away peacefully to be with Jesus on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 in Brooksville, FL.  He was the youngest of four children born to George Arthur Calhoun and Leila Phyrne Jones Calhoun on April 25, 1926 in Deep River, IA. 

A 1943 graduate of Deep River High School he began employment with Quaker Oats Company in Cedar Rapids, IA before being drafted into the Army in 1944.  He served 18 months in the Philippines with the 124th Infantry Division receiving several honors and earning the rank of Corporal.  He was honorably discharged in November, 1946.  Shortly after he met the love of his life, Hazel Price, in Cedar Rapids, IA and they were married on January 6, 1947.  In February, 1948 their daughter Nancy was born, and in March, 1952 their daughter Judi was born.   He was manager of the Calhoun Manufacturing Company, Cedar Falls, IA until he entered the ministry in April, 1953.

On his second visit to the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Cedar Falls, IA, he responded to an altar call and went forward to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.  A short time later he asked and was filled by the Holy Spirit and entirely sanctified.   Soon after, he began taking courses in preparation for the ministry from Houghton College in Houghton, NY.  He completed those courses and was ordained by the Iowa Minnesota District of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1956.

He served as pastor for Wesleyan Methodist Churches near Emily, MN, in Oskaloosa, IA, and in Minneapolis, MN.  before serving as District Superintendent of the Iowa-Minnesota District of the Wesleyan Church from 1962 until 1988 when he retired.  During that time, he also served on the General Board of Administration for The Wesleyan Church, on the Board of Trustees of Miltonvale Wesleyan College then Bartlesville Wesleyan College (now Oklahoma Wesleyan University) for fifty-seven years including the Chairman of the Board for 13 years and his emeritus status.  He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 1993.  He served on the Wesleyan Investment Foundation Board of Directors for 28 years acting as Chairman of the Board for 14 years, also served as a General Conference delegate representing the Iowa-Minnesota District, 40 of his 60 years of ministry.   After retirement, Donald continued to serve Wesleyan churches in interim roles in Austin, MN,  Cedar Falls, IA, Rapid City, SD, Cedar Rapids, IA, Lyford, TX and  Brooksville,  FL and was Vice-President of the WBCA Wesleyan Village in Brooksville,  FL  for ten years.

In his own words, “Jesus is all to me. I love Him and serve Him to the best of my ability. Hebrews 13:8 has been of great encouragement to me. ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ Changes take place all through our lives, but Jesus is the rock of stability. To anchor in Him is to have a full and happy life.”

Rev. Dr. Donald D. Calhoun is preceded in death by his parents George Arthur Calhoun and Leila Phyrne Calhoun Fisch, his siblings, Evan, Maurice, and Maxine, and his great-grandchild Zane Howell. He leaves behind his bride and partner in ministry, Hazel, his children Nancy (John W.) Howell of Bartlesville, OK, Judi (Larry) Geist of McCormick, SC; his grandsons Rev. John D. (Cristin) Howell of Medford, OR and Joel D. (Carrie) Howell of Anthem, AZ,  his great grand-children Adelin, Briley, and Carlie Howell and several nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received on Saturday, November 16, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST at the Brooksville Wesleyan Church,  22319 Cortez Blvd.  Brooksville,  FL with the celebration of life service and military honors to follow at 11:00 AM EST.  Rev. Jerry Pence, pastor of Brooksville Wesleyan Church in Brooksville,  FL will officiate.   In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a fund for ministerial students at Oklahoma Wesleyan University,  2201 Silver Lake Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006  http://www.okwu.edu/calhoun or to Cedar Springs Wesleyan Camp, 1260 River Road, Floyd, IA 50435.   The service will be live streamed at http://bwcflorida.com/watch and archived for later viewing.  Interment will be at the Bushnell National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.  Merritt Funeral Home, Brooksville, FL www.merrittfuneral.com will be handling the arrangements. 

ARRANGEMENTS BY

MERRITT FUNERAL HOME

BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA

(352)796-6699

"Family Owned & Operated"

www.merrittfuneral.com