Obituaries / LJWorld.com

Obituaries

Topeka — Memorial services for Donald D. McRae, 89, Topeka, will be at 4 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Topeka. Private family inurnment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery at a later date.
Mr. McRae died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009.
He was born Jan. 1, 1920, in Princeton, Minn., the son of Duncan A. and Lena Frank McRae.
He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1941 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He was a member of Beta Alpha Psi honorary accounting fraternity.
He served in the U.S. Navy from February 1942 to January 1946. Most of this time was spent as an officer aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota in the Pacific. The ship was the flagship of Admirals Halsey and Nimitz.
From 1946 until 1952 he was employed by Hood and Strong, CPA, San Francisco, where he earned his CPA designation. From 1952 until 1984, he was a partner in Martin Tractor Co. Inc., a Caterpillar dealer. He retired in 1984 as company chairman. He was also president of Martin Co. Inc. for more than 30 years.
He was a director of American Home Life Insurance Co. for 24 years; he also served as director of Topeka United Fund, Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Topeka Rotary Club, Presbyterian Manor and Junior Achievement. His was a member of First Congregational Church, Arab Shrine and Topeka Country Club.
He married Mary Alice Martin on Dec. 16, 1950, in Topeka. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include a son, Douglas D., Topeka; three daughters, Christie Kirmse, Napa, Calif., Patricia Denning, Lawrence, and Marla Jeffress, Centennial, Colo.; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
The family suggests memorials to the Topeka Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 8550, Topeka, KS 66608-0350 or Topeka Rotary Foundation, 1913 Village Drive, Topeka, KS 66604 or Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131.
Online condolences may be sent at penwellgabeltopeka.com.