Donald “Don” Allen Ruffcorn, 1960 - 2025
MCKEAN, RUFFCORN, SANDER
Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/15/2025 at 18:25:05
The Onawa Democrat
1 October 2025Donald “Don” Allen Ruffcorn, 65, of Onawa, Iowa passed away Monday, September 22, 2025 at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s – Downtown, Sioux City, Iowa.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, September 29, 2025 at the First Christian Church, Onawa, Iowa with Pastor Clif Cockburn and Pastor Wayne Bahr, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Don’s obituary. Burial will follow in the Onawa Cemetery, Onawa, Iowa with Military Honors provided by the United States Army and the David McNeill American Legion Post #129 of Onawa, Iowa. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday, September 29, 2025 at the First Christian Church, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.
Donald Allen was born April 30, 1960, in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of James and Nancy (McKean) Ruffcorn. He attended West Harrison High School before earning his GED. Don then continued his education at Iowa Western Community College, where he studied diesel mechanics. Don served in the United States Army and achieved the rank of PV2 and served as a helicopter repairer. He was honorably discharged at Fort Campbell, Kentucky during the 1980’s.
Donald and Erika Sander were united into marriage August 3, 2002 in Mondamin, Iowa. Don spent many years as an over-the-road truck driver, a profession that reflected his strong work ethic and dedication. Beyond his long-haul journeys, he also found joy in lending a hand to local farmers, especially during harvest season, when he could be found driving tractors and trucks to help bring in the crops.
Don enjoyed playing guitar and visiting the casino. He loved to sing and was especially known for his spot-on imitations of Louie Armstrong and Willie Nelson. A talented pool player, Don often brought home first-place wins and even traveled to Las Vegas for a tournament. He was a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan and also had a fondness for watching old war and western movies. Of all the films he enjoyed, his favorite was The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Don was a member of the Church of Christ in Mondamin, Iowa.
Survivors include his wife of twenty-three years, Erika Dawn Ruffcorn of Onawa, Iowa; his two brothers, Danny (Paula) Ruffcorn and Dennis (Peggy) Ruffcorn; three sisters, Diane Ruffcorn, Dina Vieyra, and Denise Paulsen; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jeff and Dawn Sander; two sisters-in-law, Katie (Mark) Shull and Lacey (Ryan) Blakely; his fur baby, Opie; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Nancy (McKean) Ruffcorn; paternal grandparents, Charles and Hazel (Baxter) Ruffcorn; maternal grandparents, Ransom and Zelma (Severns) McKean; and fur babies, Bailey and Shamus.
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