Dr. Donald Lomen

    Dr. Donald O. Lomen, 84, Clear Lake, died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011 at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit after a brief battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma surrounded by his family.   A funeral service was held Monday, Oct. 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City with the Rev. Jim Magelssen officiating. Following the service his body will be cremated and Inurnment will be held at the Clear Lake Cemetery at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church or to the

Iowa Music Educators Association. Cards may be sent to the Lomen Family at 2212 14th Avenue North, Clear Lake, Iowa 50428.
     Donald, the son of Selma (Herrigstad) and C.O. Lomen, is a native of Clear Lake. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1945.  Donald was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1946 where he played in the military band.  After receiving his bachelor’s degree in music education in 1950 from St. Olaf College (Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa), he earned his master’s degree at the University of Iowa in 1951.
     Donald married Patricia Hope Stevens on Aug. 11, 1956 in Westby, Wis.  They met when he was the choir director and she was the parish education director at Trinity Lutheran Church.
      In 1970 he was awarded the Ed. D. degree in music education from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo.
     His 38 years of teaching instrumental music have all been in the public schools of Iowa:  Eldora, two years, Mason City, six years; and Des Moines, 30 years.  He held various offices in the Iowa Music Educators Association (I.M.E.A.), including president, and he has been president of the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association.  Lomen was also a vice-president of the Des Moines Education Association.
     While the Instrumental Music Consultant in the Des Moines Public Schools, he began the free lesson program, the annual solo and small ensemble festival; and the select All-West Band.
      Dr. Donald Lomen received the “Distinguished Service to Music Education” Award at the annual banquet of the I.M.E.A. at the Hotel Savery in Des Moines on Friday, Nov. 9, 1990.
     Donald was a member of the Arcadia Wind Quintet in Des Moines and the North Stars Woodwind Quintet in Mason City.  He was in the Mason City and Des Moines Municipal Band, North Iowa Band and Orchestra, Des Moines Horn Club, the Iowa Veteran’s Band, as well as the Des Moines Symphony for 35 years.
     After living in Des Moines for 46 years, they moved back to Clear Lake in 2005.  He was a devoted community and school supporter, being involved with the Clear Lake Noon Lions, water aerobics, men’s morning coffee group, and the senior citizens center in Clear Lake.  He had the opportunity to go on the V.F.W.  Honor Flight. He was a lifelong member of the Windsor Heights Lutheran Church in Des Moines, where he directed and participated in choral and brass groups.  Most recently he was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City where he sang in the choir and played in brass groups.  He enjoyed people and was a great encourager and optimist all throughout his life.  He said he has had a wonderful life, blessed with great family, friends and God.
       Donald is survived by his wife, Patricia Lomen, Clear Lake; daughter, Kari Carlson and her husband, Rod; sons, Steven (Karen Webb) Lomen, Minneapolis, Minn. and David Lomen, Des Moines; grandchildren, Joshua (Laura) Carlson, Jerame Carlson, Samuel Lomen, Hannah Webb, Nikos Lomen, Twyla Lomen and Ryan Lomen; and sister, Helen Olson, of Clear Lake.
     Donald is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Gladys Rovang.
     His goal was to “Go to Heaven and be with God……Now!