Donald L. Rivers
Donald L. Rivers
Cedar Rapids
Donald L. Rivers, 80, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa. Funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 25, at Faith Lutheran Church, located at 155 Boyson Rd., Marion, Iowa, with the Rev. John Albertson officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.
Donald was born on Feb. 10, 1943, in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Helen (Brenner) Rivers. He graduated from Central High School in Sioux City and went to attend Drake University for education before earning his master’s degree in history from the University of Iowa. Donald was a lifelong learner. He used his love of knowledge to publish and edit college textbooks for over eight different subject areas for Holt Rinehart and Winston, Rand McNally and William C Brown Companies. Donald served as national accounts sales manager for Better Homes and Gardens Books, division of Meredith Corporation for over nine years. He spent two years building a new division for Hon Industries-XLM, building it into a 10-million-dollar division. After retirement, Donald worked with startup companies and independent retailers, served on various church leadership boards, and was the board president for the Cops Against Cancer Organization. He was an avid reader, loved puzzles, fishing, running marathons and his cats. Donald liked to be a part of family gatherings and was very committed to his church. He had a very giving spirit and was always willing to help anyone at any time. Donald will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Donald is survived and lovingly remembered by his daughter, Tiffany (Steve) Beevers of Cedar Rapids; grandsons, Thomas and Nick Beevers of Cedar Rapids; sister, Mary Irene Stanton of Mason City, Iowa; nieces and nephews, Lyndy (Dave) Werdin of Minnesota, Suzanne Stanton of Ankeny, Iowa, Patrick (Brenda) Stanton of Michigan, Cindy (Dan) Langanki of Minnesota and Sarah (Ron) Cray of South Carolina; and aunt, Rosanne Tice of Sioux City, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Thomas Rivers; and brother-in-law, Harry Stanton.
Please share a memory of Donald at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.