Don R. Antonette 74 of Daytona Beach passed away Friday March 30 2012. Don was born in Omaha Nebraska September 18 1937 the son of Raymond R.& Nora E. Antonette. Don was raised and educated in Sioux City Iowa and graduated from Morningside College in 1962. Don joined Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. in 1961 as a College Agent. In 1963 moved to Le Mars Iowa as District Agent for NML. In 1976 he was promoted to General Agent and moved to New Hartford NY. He married Virginia Durst Abdo on August 27 1976. Don retired from Northwestern Mutual Life April 30 1996.

Don received his Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU) designation in 1971 and Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC) in 1984. He held various offices in the Mohawk Valley Association of Chartered Life Underwriters. His activities in Jaycees earned him Outstanding Local President in Iowa in 1965 and was awarded the highest award in 1968; the JCI Senatorship. He was named one of America's Outstanding Young Men in 1968. Active in many local and regional affairs he was a member of the New Hartford Kiwanis and a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. Don's memberships also included Yahnundasis Golf Club Utica Curling Club Upstate Flying Club Woods Lake Hunting Club and a Communicant of St. Johns Evangelist in New Hartford NY.

Don and Virginia retired to Daytona Beach Fl in 1999. Don was active in the Pelican Bay Country Club and Pelican Bay Homeowners Association. Don was a life member of BPOE Elks and a member of the American Legion. He was a member of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church where he volunteered with the St Vincent DePaul Food Pantry and Thrift Store. He also volunteered for the Habitat for Humanity. Don enjoyed spending his time with family and his grandchildren; he also enjoyed golfing traveling with friends fishing hunting and spending his summers at the St. Lawrence River NY.

He will be missed by his wife Virginia of 35 years; Children Debra (Rod) Kenowith of LeMars Iowa; Nancy (Mike) Schroeder Granger Iowa; Dawn (Tony) Antonette-Luce New Hartford NY; Carol (Dan) Abdo-Brownsberger Daytona Beach Florida; Theresa (Greg) Garthright Lincoln Nebraska and Michael Abdo Utica NY. Also surviving are his brothers Richard (Dee) Antonette Lake Jackson TX; Edward (Doretha) Antonette Goletha CA. Grandchildren: Daniel Kenowith; Kristen & Keni Schroeder; Giavanna & Anthony Jr. Luce; Matthew & Jon Brownsberger; Matthew Melissa & Kari Garthright.

Gathering of Friends will be Wednesday April 11 2012 at Lohmans Port Orange 5pm-8pm Vigil at 6:30pm. A Funeral Mass will be 8:30 am Thursday April 12 2012 at the Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church Port Orange.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Don Antonette Family Endowment at Morningside College Sioux City Iowa or to St.Vincent DePaul c/o Our Lady of Hope Church Port Orange Florida.