BALLINGER, Donald M. (1946-2022)

BALLINGER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/29/2023 at 17:54:42

Donald Marion Ballinger
(July 25, 1946 - November 25, 2022)

Celebration of Life Services for Donald Marion Ballinger, 76, who passed away Friday, November 25, 2022 in Des Moines, will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, with visitation to be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment of cremains will be at a later date in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Coon Rapids, IA.
Donnie was born on July 25, 1946, in Adair, IA to David and Marian Ballinger. He graduated from Martensdale-St. Marys High School in 1966, then attended DMACC community college where he studied auto mechanics. He eventually became a journeyman mechanic and worked for Bett's Cadillac, in Des Moines. To say that Donnie was ornery, slightly crazy and totally unpredictable would be an understatement. With "hobbies" that included driving at high speeds on gravel roads, both forward and in reverse, to participating in motocross events, Donnie lived life on the proverbial "edge"! In addition to his lifelong obsession with vintage automobiles, one of Donnie's main passions was fishing, but you would NEVER want to tell him anything about it, because he knew it all. Back in the Seventies, Donnie became friends with an unlikely married couple. The husband was the head of the Iowa Dept. of Social Services and the wife, who had a Master’s Degree in psychology, was employed as a clinical psychologist. After she got to know Donnie and experience his behavior patterns, she thought he would make an excellent "case study," should she ever decide to go for her PhD. Obviously, she'd never come across anyone with a personality close to Donnie's. And when she subsequently found out that he was an identical twin, she exclaimed, "Oh my God, you mean there's TWO of them?!!"
Donnie is survived by his siblings, Gene (Judy) Ballinger, Cheryl Green, Janet Walker, Mike (Linda) Ballinger, Debra Gilchrist and Kent Ballinger, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Marian Ballinger, and his twin brother, David F. Ballinger. The family is encouraging anyone who attends Donnie's celebration to be ready to share a short story about him. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed here on Donald’s obituary page. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]