Donald H. Ortiz

Don was born to Ted & Verna (Gunderson) Ortiz in Carter Lake Iowa. Don met Joyce while attending Tech High School. They would later marry in 1950, but first upon graduating from Tech High School, Don joined the Army serving in Korea.

Don used his GI bill to attend UNO for 2 years, but ended up a "Hard Rocker" graduating from the South Dakota School of Mines with a Mechanical Engineering Degree.

Don and Joyce lived and worked though out Europe and the United States before settling down in Carter Lake, IA in 1961.

Don founded UNECO manufacturing with two friends Bill Larsen and Randy Lloyd , which at it height employed nearly 500 employees. The company started with High Altitude Antenna but include products like Greasy Kid Stuff and an Automobile named the Suburban Safari. He finished his working career in the scrap metal business where he worked until he was 80 years old.

Don served on the Carter Lake City Council. He was a member of the Carter Lake Community Presbyterian Church, and the Carter Lake Optimist Club.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Ted and Verna Ortiz, sister Darlene Wilson, brother Warren Ortiz and daughter Carol Ortiz.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce of 67 years, sister Yvonne Elsasser, daughter Jeana Robinson, son Ted (Kristy) Ortiz, daughter Tessa Rocha. Grandchildren and great grandchildren, Cali (Josh) Swango & Teagen, Natalie (Mike) White, Tyler, Shelby, and Trenton, David (Sarah) Ortiz, Steven (Raquel) Ortiz & Reuben, Gideon, Cora and Gemma, Elizabeth (Zak) Cole & Zaden and Azalea, James (Sarah) Ortiz, Breanna, Noah & Austin Rocha.

Memorial Service will be held on Friday at 11:00am at the Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home .

The family suggests memorials be directed to Carter Lake Optimists.