Gerald Ervin DINGMAN

DINGMAN, WHEELER, ARMBURG, CAQUELIN, VANDEVENTER, DRAEGER, FISH, ORMROD, WIERSON, FENCHAK, KIDD, HAGENSON, VULGAMOTT, FOLLETT, KLECKNER, MIX, GRAHAM, DOOLITTLE, NEUBAUER, LOGSTON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/4/2009 at 19:39:01

Gerald Ervin Dingman, age 71, passed away Friday, Nov. 9, 2007 at home, 509 Elmhurst Drive, Webster City, after a five-month illness. He was born March 16, 1936, the 12th child of James W. Dingman and Ethel Estela Vandeventer Dingman. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Webster City. Gerald was educated in Webster City and received his GED while serving in the Army in Wertheim Germany. He was a member of Co. E 133rd Infantry 34th Red Bull NG and in Regulars 194th FA BN Activated.

He married Shirley Wheeler in 1956 and they later divorced. He is survived by daughters Pam (Dingman) Draeger of Webster City and Bonnie (Dingman) Fish of Indianola. He married Annie (Ormrod) Armburg Wierson in November 1970 and she predeceased him in 1989. Surviving him are step-daughters Peg Armburg of London, England, Dee (Armburg) Fenchak of Anaconda, Montana, Lois (Armburg) Kidd of Stratford, Karen (Wierson) Hagenson of Webster City, and Pat (Wierson) Vulgamott of Coralville. He married Darlene (Caquelin) Follett in 1990, who survives him along with step-daughter Darcey Follett of Webster City. Also surviving are his brother Duane Dingman and sisters Mavis Kleckner of Webster City and Lila Mix of Monument, Colorado, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son Mark Dingman in infancy, his parents, and brothers and sisters: Billy Dingman, Isaac Dingman, Francis Dingman, Vernon Dingman, Wilma Graham, Belva Neubauer, Lillian Logston and Viola Doolittle.

Gerald worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a signal helper and cook and at Morton Frozen Foods before pursuing the plumbing trade. He apprenticed with LV Mills (Anderson Plumbing), worked for 10 years for Pray Brothers Plumbing and 25 years from Gadbury Plumbing & Heating in Fort Dodge retiring in 1994. He was a licensed Ham radio operator, wrote poetry, loved to fish, enjoyed socializing with his coffee groups, and was a self-taught musician playing many instruments including the guitar, mandolin and steel guitar. He was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Webster City. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Humane Society of Central Iowa, 2415 1/2 5th Ave. S, Fort Dodge and Hospice of Hamilton County.

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa
November 13, 2007