Donald K. Mangels (1929-2006)

MANGELS, RUHSER, DOW, VOLK

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 6/3/2006 at 07:39:45

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Saturday, June 3, 2006.

Donald K. Mangels
June 9, 1929-June 2, 2006
Donald K. Mangels, 76, Ames, died June 2 at the Israel Family Hospice House. Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Al Aiton officiating. Donald will be buried in Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Donald was born on June 9, 1929, in Durant to Leonard L. and Evelyn A. (Ruhser) Mangels. He lived in Durant for 10 years, Chariton for 11 years and East Moline, Ill., for two years. He also lived in Iowa City; Oxnard, Calif.; Japan; Montgomery, Ala.; Moses Lake, Wash.; Tuscon, Ariz.; Puerto Rico; New Mexico; Norman, Okla.; Air Force Academy, Colo.; Vietnam; Potomac, Md.; Washington, D.C.; and Ames.

He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree in commerce, and from the University of Oklahoma with a master's degree in history in 1966.

He was a colonel in the US Air Force and retired in 1977.

He married Verlene Dow on April 4, 1952, in Santa Maria, Calif.

Colonel Mangels had a long and distinguished career in the United States Air Force. He entered the Air Force reserve through the Air Force ROTC program in 1950. He was called to active duty in 1952 and served in a variety of actions including Korea and Vietnam during those conflicts. He was on the History Department faculty at the Air Force Academy from 1966 to 1970. Following service in Vietnam in 1970 to '71, Mangels served in the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1971 to '74. During this assignment, he participated in the target selection for the Christmas bombing of Hanoi and Haiphang by B-52 bombers. His final tour was as Commander of the USAF ROTC Detachment at Iowa State University.

Following his retirement, he was employed by First National Bank in Ames as marketing officer.

His many community services include past president of the Ames Foundation; past president of Story County Chapter of Pheasants Forever; former board member of the Octagon Center for the Arts, United Way of Story County, Ames Chamber of Commerce; and parade chairman, Ames Bicentennial Celebration.

His interests included family vacations, hunting and fishing and world travel. He was the 649th hunter to collect the four species of wild sheep included in the North American Grand Slam.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Verlene; three children, Kristen Lee Mangels (Murray) of Ames, Lisa Ann Volk (Patrick) of Urbana, Ill.; Eric Donald Mangels (Julie) of Ankeny; and five grandchildren, Ashley, Austin, Nathan, Anthony and Alex.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter and a brother, Duane Mangels.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 5, with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home.

Adams Funeral Home in Ames is in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Story County Chapter of Pheasants Forever or Israel Family Hospice House, 400 South Dakota Ave., Ames, IA, 50014.

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