Herbert P. Mc Caw's Obituary
Herbert Paul McCaw was the youngest of four children, Born in Elkhart, Iowa to Rev. Clayton Clair McCaw and Anna Mildred Phillips.His father's work as a Christian minister allowed the family to live in several Midwestern locations including Columbus, Ohio and Des Moines, Iowa.He enlisted in the navy in 1943 just two weeks before his eighteenth birthday and was eventually promoted to the rank of Ensign. He trained as a Pharmacist's mate, a boxer and a Pilot. When his military service ended, Mr. McCaw received his Bachelor of Science in education from Ohio State University; and his Masters of Science in Psychology and the school of Administration from Iowa State University. He was married to Donna Glee (Bish) McCaw from 1950-1990 and had four children; Beverly Ann McCaw, Linda Glee Allen, Dan Paul McCaw, and Terrie Lin Taziri.Although he was a teacher by profession, Herbert McCaw engaged in several other businesses. He was a deputy sheriff from 1957-1960, he farmed, invested in multiple rental properties, owned a movie theatre and owned the Des Moines coin and stamp company. Most of his teaching career was spent as a member of the faculty in the Des Moines school district for North High School, the Des Moines Technical Institute and Lincoln High school, where he retired from after thirty-three years. He was a certified to teach seventeen subjects and taught driver's education, mathematics, English, history, biology and zoology. He coached wrestling, football, track, and basketball.Mr. McCaw enjoyed vacationing during the summer months with family at his cabin in Lake Winnibigosh, Minnesota and at his home in Hudson, Florida where he moved permanently in 1990. Herbert was a fisherman, gardener, inventor, carpenter and electronics repairman in his spare time. He enjoyed fixing TV's, refrigerators, bicycles and sewing machines and also published tow fictional novels. Mr. McCaw was an expert story teller with an incredible sense of humor and a keen wit. he was able to spin a tale that would make even a skeptic believe the unbelievable. He was preceded in death by his sister, R. Betty Johannaber; father, Rev. Clayton Clair McCaw; mother, Mildred (Phillips) McCaw; and step-mother, Mabel N. McCaw. Survivors include his children, Beverly McCaw, Linda Allen and husband Jeff Allen, Dan McCaw, Terrie Taziri and husband Wayne Taziri, grandchildren; Jaina Barcenilla, Jessica Allen husband Jeff Buettner, Jeremy Allen and wife Jenna-Clare and Benjamin Taziri; great-grandchildren; Joseph Barcenilla, Elise Bacenilla and William Allen; brothers, Rev. John E. McCaw and Franklin McCaw, sever nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews. Mr. McCaw will be interred at Florida National Cemetery, in Bushnell, Florida. In Lieu of flowers, the family request donations given in his name to Easter Seals Iowa, 401 N.E. 66th Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50313, 515-289-1933.
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