UEKER, Donald F. 1921-2003

UEKER, GASHEL, JUNE, KUPKER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/9/2009 at 15:20:11

MASON CITY, IOWA — Donald F. Ueker, 81, of 501 S. Kentucky Ave., died Friday (June 13, 2003) at Heritage Care Center, Mason City.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, with Rev. Scott Duffus, St James Lutheran Church, officiating. Private family inurnment services will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be directed to the Donald F. Ueker Memorial Fund.

Donald Frederick Ueker was born Sept. 23, 1921, on a farm near Nora Springs, the son of Frederick and Anna (Gashel) Ueker. He was baptized Dec. 4, 1921, at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Nora Springs and also confirmed there. He grew up in the Nora Springs area graduating from Nora Springs High School in 1939.

Upon graduation, he went to Baltimore, Md., where he was employed by Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company of Middle River, Md.

He returned to Nora Springs in 1942 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force receiving his honorable discharge in 1946.

Don was united in marriage to Wilma Kupker June 30, 1946, at St. John Lutheran Church in Charles City.

He was employed as a plumber and pipefitter for several companies in Nora Springs, Charles City and Mason City until his retirement in 1983.

Don served on the town council in Nora Springs and church boards in Nora Springs and Mason City. He held various offices in Plumbing and Pipefitters Local #405. He was a Boy Scout leader for 13 years.

At the time of his death, he was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Plumber and Steamfitters Local #33 of Des Moines, and a lifetime member of VFW Post 733.

Don enjoyed camping and boating with family and friends. After retirement, he and wife Wilma spent several winters in the South.

Don is survived by two sons, James Ueker and wife, Patricia, of Mason City, and Richard Ueker and wife, Lila, of Mason City; grandchildren, Nicole Murphy and husband, Patrick, and their children, Andy and Kelly of Camdenton, Mo., Ryan Ueker of Phoenix, Ariz., and Andrea and Lisa Ueker of Mason City.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a brother, sister and nephew.

Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, (641) 423-0924.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]