Danny Ray Weldon passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. I am reminded of a quote by Dr. Seuss that goes, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Danny was born on September 22, 1937, in Lovilia, IA to Claib and Lestie Winegardner Weldon.
Danny graduated from Lovilia High School in 1955. He married Virginia McMillen in August 1957 in Albia, IA. She passed away in 2016.
Danny worked construction, building metal buildings, and was a truck driver on the construction of I-80 in the Davenport area. He then went to work for the Maytag Company in Newton for three years. Then he went to work for the VA Hospital in Knoxville as a Nursing Assistant, became an Occupational Therapy Assistant, later transferring to the Plumbing Shop as a plumber. When he retired in 1992 after 30 years, he was Supervisor of the Plumbing-Pipefitter Shop.
Throughout the years, Danny had been a member of the Lovilia Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Chief multiple times, served as a City Council member and as Mayor. He served as a Boy Scout Master and an Explorer Leader. Danny and his wife were among the first individuals in the county to become EMT-As and later became instructors for EMT-A, Rescue and CPR.
Danny was a 50-plus-year member of the Masonic Lodge and was a Master Mason. He was a 50-plus-year member of the Marion County Isetta Shrine Unit and the ZA-GA-Zig Shrine Temple. He loved parading with his “little red car.”
After retirement, Danny enjoyed buying, rebuilding and reselling vehicles and later garden tractors. Danny loved to travel to Branson, MO and an occasional trip to Toot-Toots Restaurant in Bethany for a meal. Danny loved to go “Good Willing” and garage sailing to find that “special” bargain. He had a passion for reading paperback books, especially Westerns.
Danny is survived by three sons, Jeff (Deanna), Bryan (Vonda) and Randy (Lou Ann); four granddaughters, Allie, Eliza, Lisa and Tosha; two grandsons, Andy and Travis; seven great-granddaughters, Kendall, Claire, Harley, Taylyan, Emma, Allie, and Kennedy; and three great-grandsons, Lathan, Donovan and Teegan.
Danny was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; a granddaughter, Ashley; four brothers, Archie “Jack”, Edgar “Ed”, Clarence “Buster”, and James “Homer”; and two sisters, Gladys and Wilma.
In the words of Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Per Danny’s wishes, he has been cremated and no services planned.
A celebration of life with family and friends to reminisce and celebrate Danny’s life will be held later.
Donations in Danny’s honor may be made to the Lovilia United Methodist Church or the Lovilia Gazebo Project.
