Donald V. Doyle

Donald V. Doyle, 82, long time Iowa state legislator and proud lifelong resident of Sioux City, died Monday, June 4, 2007, at his residence following a lengthy illness.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, 3220 Stone Park Blvd., with the Rev. Gerald Feierfeil officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Don was born Jan. 13, 1925, in Sioux City, the son of William and Nellie (Sparby) Doyle. He graduated mid-term from Central High School. He then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Chinese-Burma Theater during World War II. He attended Colorado A.&.M. in Fort Collins, Colo., and Colorado University, where he studied engineering. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska, his law degree from the University of South Dakota and his juris doctorate from Morningside College. He later attended the University of Iowa, where he studied nuclear science.

He married Janet "Jan" Holtz on Aug. 9, 1963, in a small town in Minnesota. In addition to being a Sioux City attorney for more than five decades, he was a Democratic Party member who spent nine terms (18 years) in the Iowa House through 1980. He had an additional four terms (12 years) in the Senate through 1992. His three decades of service were the most of any Iowa state lawmaker at that time and still is.

In addition to serving on various Senate committees, he was a chair of Law and Justice Committee of NCSL (1988) and Judiciary Committee, commissioner, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 64, the American Legion 40/8, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans. He served three terms as national judge advocate and past commander of Iowa CBI Veterans Association. He also was active with the Civil Defense as a ham radio operator.

Don was very concerned about education, law enforcement and was gratified with his service on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In his spare time, he was interested in electronics and was known as a "gadget man." He loved a challenge and never gave up. He always spoke his mind.

He is survived by his wife, Jan of Sioux City; two daughters, Dawn Doyle Stewart and her husband, Bryan of Sioux City and Shannon Bathurst and her husband, Rob of Bismark, N.D.; seven grandchildren, Zachary Doyle, Michael Sturgeon, William Stewart, Mark Peterson, Sarah Peterson, Grant Bathurst and Grace Bathurst; two great-grandchildren, Jordan and Autumn McCallum; a cousin, Sally Doyle of Pinckney, Mich.; many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Nellie; and many cousins.

Pallbearers will be Zachary Doyle, Bryan Stewart, Louis Holtz, Jon Holtz, Bradley Diller and Michael Holtz. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made in his name and directed to the family.