Donald E. Mangle

Donald Eugene Mangle, 92, of Camdenton, Missouri and native to Humboldt, Iowa passed away peacefully on May 21, 2017 at the Laurie Care Center in Laurie, MO. Funeral Services will be 10:30 am Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt with the Rev. Alberta Ervin officiating. Burial will full military rites will be in Union Cemetery, Humboldt. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.
Don, the son of Vernon Mangle and Josephine (Witmarsh) Mangle , was born November 29, 1924 on a 320 acre farm near Lavern, Iowa. He rode his horse to country school and graduated from Livermore high school. In 1944, Don enlisted in the navy and was assigned as a fire control gunner aboard an amphibious Landing Ship, LST 587 in the Pacific Theater World War II. He saw combat during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, two of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific. After Japan surrendered, Don’s ship anchored in Tokyo Harbor and the crew was assigned as part of the occupation force to disarm the Japanese. After his discharge from the Navy, Don returned to Humboldt, Iowa where he was united in marriage to LaVonne Smith in 1948. Don soon started his business in Humboldt, Mangle Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. In addition, he built houses. After 25 years in Humboldt, he moved his business to Spirit Lake in 1975, where he bought two resorts, continued to build homes and run the PHC business. In 1983 Don sold his business and retired to Hot Springs Village Arkansas. In retirement, he built another dozen homes in the Village and then moved to Lake of the Ozarks in 2001.
Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, bridge and golf. He and LaVonne also enjoyed traveling the world on several cruises. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Masons, Shriners, Elks, Rotary, Lions, and the Methodist Church. Don is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, LaVonne; His sister Alice Isaacson of Phoenix AZ; His daughter Debra (Mangle) Reefer of Lake Ozark, MO; Four grandchildren; Brandon Hogue, Martin Hogue, Zachary Reefer, and Anna (Reefer) Kohl; Five great grandchildren; Diana Hogue, Phoebe Hogue, Crosby Hogue, Johnie Hogue, and Eva Kohl. Don was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Jerry, a sister Ruth and daughter Diana (Mangle) Hogue. In lieu of flowers, a donation to St Jude Children’s Hospital can be made in Don’s honor for his many years of service as a Shriner. www.stjude.org