Donald Hancock

Donald Ralph Hancock, 76, a long time rural Atlantic resident, passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2003, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Donald was born on May 1, 1927 on a farm southeast of Lewis to Ralph and Velma (Gebbie) Hancock. They later moved to a farm near Griswold where Donald attended grade and high school and worked on the farm with his father. The family moved to a farm southeast of Atlantic in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army on October 5, 1950 and after basic training, he was assigned to Japan and then to Korea where he fought in the Korean War. A letter to his parents written on Heartbreak Ridge was published in the Atlantic News Telegraph during that time. He was honorably discharged from the Army on September 23, 1952 and resumed farming with his father. His military decorations include the Army Occupation Medal (Japan), Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Combat Infantry Badge and the United States Service Medal. He retired from full-time farming in 1972 and resided with his parents on Locust Street in Atlantic. He continued to work for various farmers in the area until 1987. He loved to go to farm sales and watch old western movies.He is survived by his brother David and wife Phyllis of Atlantic and seven nieces and nephews, Larry Castleberry, Brian Castleberry, Diane Helfrich, Sandra Conley, John, Craig and Ben Hancock.Donald is preceded in death by his parents; sisters Margaret and Mary in infancy and Martha Castleberry; a brother Reverend Lester Hancock; a brother-in-law Pat Castleberry and a nephew Douglas Castleberry.Funeral InformationServices for Donald will be held Thursday, July 24, 2003, at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Annette Ruhs Kruse from the United Methodist Church in Wiota officiating. The Atlantic Color Guard will be in charge of military services at the Lewis Cemetery.