David O.Creighton Sr - Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame

In February 2026 I nominated my late friend, David O.Creighton Sr., to be posthumously inducted into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame (IIHOF). I just found out that he will be inducted this year on October 6, 2026 at the Meadows Event Center in Altoona, IA.. 

The submission to the IIHOF included letters of recommendation from several people. I was honored to able to send the following letter of recommendation the IIHOF Board of Directors.

To the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors of the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame,

It is with sincere pleasure that I write to recommend the induction of David O’Neil Creighton, Sr., CPCU, to the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame.

I met David in 1993 when Preferred Risk Mutual (now GuideOne Insurance) acquired the Bryton Companies. David was president of the Bryton Companies.  We worked together to successfully combine the Bryton Companies with Preferred Risk’s wholesale brokerage called CGA Insurance Services. During those years I found David to be a visionary on identifying and then implementing best practices in agency automation and optimizing workflows to the benefit of both policyholders and employees.

David was a member of the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) Company Council of Executive Officers (PIA-CEO) and made many trips to the PIA headquarters in Alexandria, VA. David’s involvement in the development of PIA’s Agent of the Future curriculum was significant.

David met annually with Iowa’s legislators in Washinton D.C. to provide input on issues that affected the insurance industry at the carrier, agency, and policyholder level. I was present with David at one such meeting with Congressman Jim Leach. This was just prior to the passage of the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act. The sponsors had locked down the bill as they had enough votes in both houses and agreement from the Clinton administration. The problem was this version had an inherent flaw in the privacy provisions that would have made underwriting difficult or even impossible. Industry leaders and even Representative Leach’s staff knew the bill was flawed but the votes were secured and Representative Leach would not entertain any discussion of the matter.When industry leaders and Representative Leach’s staff found out that our delegation had a meeting Representative Leach, we were swept into a private club on Capitol Hill and briefed on the issue. When we met with Representative Leach he politely listened as I talked about the issues that would make underwriting difficult for the carriers. Then David spoke eloquently about the impact on his customers and that message got through to Representative Leach. He instructed his staff to “put this issue on the agenda with the White House next week.” We found out later that next week that those changes were agreed to by both houses and the Clinton administration. David saved the industry an untold amount of chaos and expense!

David was a lifelong learner and encouraged others to further their education. Among other designations and certifications that David held was the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. He was a member in good standing and an active member of the Iowa CPCU Society.

Others will write about his years of dedicated service on the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) board, his many years on the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences, and his successful efforts to bring professional golf tournaments to Des Moines.

In conclusion David O’Neil Creighton,Sr., CPCU, has significantly impacted the insurance industry, served as a role model for young people and others in the industry (he was my mentor), exhibited the highest standards of ethical conduct, and he contributed to our community. David’s induction into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame would be the proper recognition of his life of achievement and contribution.

Sincerely, Robert D Conroy, CPCU, CIC
Executive Director, Iowa FAIR Plan Association

She is at Peace.

Debbie has finished her long goodbye. She died on July 01, 2026, and is finally free from the disease that slowly robbed her of so many years while making the last decade of her life a challenge for her, her family, and her friends.

A couple of weeks ago, Debbie began showing increased signs of confusion. After several medical tests, it became clear that her condition had progressed to the point where hospice care was appropriate. Those services were arranged quickly, and, thankfully, she was able to remain in the room at Edgewater that had been her home for the past two years.

There is nothing but gratitude in my heart for the compassionate caregivers and staff at Edgewater, a WesleyLife Community. They cared for Debbie with exceptional kindness, dignity, and respect, bringing comfort not only to her but also to our family during the final chapter of her life.

I am equally grateful to my family and friends who stood by Debbie for so many years and surrounded us with love and support during her final weeks. It was remarkable to see everyone focus on one thing, making Debbie as comfortable as possible while caring for one another. There were no discouraging words, only compassion, kindness, and love. One of my greatest joys was seeing Debbie meet her two-week-old great-granddaughter, Lucy, made possible by a 600-mile round trip that her parents gladly made so they could share that moment with her.

Those who know us well will not be surprised to learn that Debbie and I preplanned our funeral arrangements more than 20 years ago. Debbie wanted a quiet goodbye with a private service and interment. She never mentioned a visitation, however, so we are taking advantage of that small loophole to give family and friends an opportunity to gather, share memories, and celebrate the wonderful person she was. The visitation will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home (8201 Hickman Rd. Urbandale, IA) A private service and interment will be held at a later date.

Debbie was the kindest person I have ever known. It was one of life's greatest privileges to be her husband, her best friend, and her partner for 25 years. Her gentle spirit, warm heart, and quiet strength touched everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.

https://www.caldwellparrish.com/obituaries/debra-conroy

Here is a wonderful tribute written by my daughter Katie about Debbie.

My sweet bonus mom passed away yesterday.

Debbie came into my life exactly when I needed her most. I was 21 years old, a brand-new mom, and grieving the loss of my own mom to cancer. From the very beginning, she made me feel welcomed, loved, and like I belonged.

She became Jackson's beloved "Rar-Rar," and I will always be grateful that she stepped into that role with so much love. She held space for my grief, never trying to replace my mom, but patiently loving me through it. We shared countless conversations, always respecting and caring for one another.

When Allison was born, Debbie scooped her right up and proudly became her grandma too. Then came Hunter and Chase. I still smile thinking about how she thanked me for "letting her be a grandma" because now she was a professional.

Debbie was the glue that held our family together. Because she became my bonus mom, I was blessed with two incredible sisters, Mikki and Aimee, whom I love with all my heart and soul. Along with them came an amazing extended family that welcomed me with open arms.

Debbie made it possible for me to be loved by so many people when I needed it the most. That is a gift I will carry with me forever.

She may be gone from our sight, but she will always be with us. She is finally free to be the Debbie we all know and love, and I know she's smiling down on all of us.

I will miss her forever.

Thank you, Debbie, for being my mom. I love you so much, and I always will.

Meet Lucy Jo Lane

What an incredible day! Today I met my five-day-old great-granddaughter, Lucy Jo Lane, for the very first time. She is healthy, beautiful, and already surrounded by so much love. 

Her mother and father are doing a wonderful job as new parents. It didn't take long for Lucy to steal my heart, and I know she will bring endless joy to our family in the years ahead.

Two Years in Edgewater

It is hard to believe that nearly two years have passed since Debbie moved to Edgewater. I have become very comfortable with the ebb and flow of life there. Edgewater is in my backyard just a block away and I can see a glimpse of it from my back deck. The facility is about 18 years old and some major remodeling is in progress. A water fountain feature and an endless path of overlapping figure eights with nice landscaping was added. It is very nice and it was built with donated funds.

As I look back over the last few months it is easy to notice Debbie’s continued cognitive decline. But at the same time the tragedy of her cognitive decline is offset by her being calmer and I dare say happier than she was even six months ago. Perhaps it's because she understands less about what she's lost or maybe we are doing a better job of taking care of her needs. Regardless, I'm grateful for her current happiness. At this stage, peace and comfort feel like victories.

One unexpected source of comfort has entered Debbie’s life. She has “adopted” a baby doll who we call “Baby.” She treats it like a living baby, talks to it a lot and apparently it is talking back to her because she holds conversations with the doll and it makes her very happy.

Debbie has been sleeping 12 to 14 hours a day which is not uncommon for a resident in memory care. The problem was Debbie often slept those hours consecutively and that was causing her some issues with incontinence and preventing her from taking her medicines at a regular time. I contracted for additional help for Debbie to come four hours a day from 10 am to 2 pm. This person helps Debbie to get up in the morning, take a shower, get dressed, take her medicines, and eat lunch at an appropriate time. I am certain that we are doing the best we can for Debbie, that she is living her best life, and everything else is up to God.

Even amid the challenges, life continues to move forward around us. I still find work at the Iowa FAIR Plan both enjoyable and rewarding. I am looking forward to the birth of my first great grandchild in June. My granddaughter Allison graduated from the University of Nebraska and has been accepted into medical school at Des Moines University. So, she will be in Des Moines for at least the next three years!

I've made two trips to Kearney, Nebraska to see family over the last three months. When I return from my trips and walk in the house it now feels like home. I greatly appreciate that feeling. I am still meticulous about keeping the house clean and tidy, e.g., when I return from a trip everything is unpacked and put away while the washing machine is going strong. Within a couple of hours, you would not know that I had ever left home. I must need that type of orderliness. It gives me comfort, and on reflection perhaps that is because so many other things in my life are out of my direct control.

As I get older, perhaps even wiser, I refrain from giving unsolicited advice and often defer when asked for advice because it is so often ignored. But I am going to break my rule and reiterate the advice given in a previous blog. One lesson this journey has reinforced for me is the importance of having affairs in order before a crisis arrives. Everybody reading this should have a living trust and/or a will with appropriate powers of attorney documents for healthcare and for financial issues along with a living will in place today. If you do not have that in place right now or it hasn't been reviewed for years, take care of that today!

Onward and Upward! Bob