Thelke, Donald F. (1931-2007)

THELKE, KNIEWASSER, SMALLEY, SCHMITT, VANDERWATER, WELSH, LARSEN, GLASCO

Posted By: Colleen Ossman (email)
Date: 5/7/2009 at 15:09:45

Webster City Freeman Journal, Sep 25, 2007

Donald Thelke, 76, of Iowa Falls, formerly of Alden, passed away Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital, Iowa Falls, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 Tuesday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Iowa Falls, with pastor Kenneth Krueger officiating. Burial will follow at the Alden Cemetery, Alden. Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Monday evening at the Linn's Funeral Homes Iowa Falls Chapel.

Donald Frederick Thelke was born August 4, 1931, in the Lutheran Hospital, Hampton, Iowa, the son of Herman and Margaret [Kniewasser] Thelke. He was baptized at birth and later confirmed at the Vernon Lutheran Church, Dows, Iowa. He grew up in rural Blairsburg, Iowa, where he graduated from the Blairsburg High School with the class of 1949. On April 22, 1951 he was united in marriage to Audrey Ann Smalley at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Webster City, Iowa. Together they farmed north of Alden, Iowa, until his retirement in 1995.

Don enjoyed camping and fishing during the summer and spending his winters in Florida. He also enjoyed going to his great grandson, Jayden's baseball and basketball games. Family was very important to him and he was always there for them.

He will be missed by his wife: Audrey of Iowa Falls; and three children: Steve (Carol) Thelke of Alden, Gary Thelke of Jacksonville, Fla., and Cathy (Roger) Schmitt of Parkersburg; five grandchildren: Corey (Darla) Thelke of Grimes, Scott Thelke of Alden, Jessica (Lee) Vanderwater of Winterset, Wade (Stephanie) Welsh currently deployed with the U. S. Army in Baghdad, Iraq, and Matthew (Tiffany) Welsh of Junction City, Kan.; two great grandchildren: Jayden Thelke of Iowa Falls, and Grant Vanderwater of Winterset. Also surviving are his siblings: Erma (Wendell) Larsen of Ft. Dodge, and twin brother Robert (Janice) Thelke of Blairsburg; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Herman and Margaret Thelke of Ft. Dodge, and sister and brother-in-law: Nelda and Ivan Glasco of Ft. Dodge.