The Rev. Donald E. Baustian, 87, of Ames, Armanda Neely died Saturday morning, 18 May, 2019. He is survived by his wife Beverly Kaiser Baustian of Ames, three children and three grandchildren: Anne Ruybal (Joseph Castle Rock, Colo., Zackery); Gregory Baustian (Jennifer, Maple City, Mich); Teresa Balsley (Ames, Iowa, Samuel and Taylor).
Don grew up in Davenport, Iowa where he attended public schools and graduated from Davenport High School. He attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) for one year before transferring to Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., where he received an A.B. Degree and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to study at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City, where he received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree with honors in Bible. In 1975, he and his family went to New York City where he pursued advanced studies in New Testament at both General and Union Theological Seminaries, Woodstock College and Fordham University.
Fr. Baustian was ordained deacon and priest in 1957. He and Beverly Kaiser were married in Waterloo, Iowa on June 15, 1957. Fr. Don served in three location in Iowa (Emmetsburg/Algona, Fairfield and Keokuk) before becoming rector of Christ church in downtown Little Rock, Ark., in 1981. In 1988, at the invitation of the Bishop of Haiti, the Rt. Rev Luc Garnier, both he and his wife joined the faculty of the Theological Seminary of the Diocese of Haiti. At the conclusion of their three year term in Haiti, they returned to Arkansas. Fr. Don served as vicar of Saint John's Church, Camden until he retired from active pastoral ministry in 1997. Between 1991 and 1997 he also served for a time as vicar of Saint Mark's Church, Hope and Saint James' Church, Magnolia. After retiring, he also served a five year term as North American Warden of the International Order of Saint Luke the Physician. The Baustians moved to the Northcrest Community, Ames, Iowa in 2013.
After cremation, ashes are to be interred at a later date in Orange Township Cemetery in Waterloo, Iowa. Friends and family are asked to pray for the repose of Donald Baustian's soul at their own church services. Memorials may be given to Food for the Poor 6401 Lyons Rd Coconut Creek, Fla. 33097-9005 and/or Bethlehem Ministry, P.O. Box 48387, Athens, Ga. 30604-8387. Online condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.

Published May 21, 2019