Donald James SHERIFF

SHERIFF, GEALOW, HEDGES, JOHNSON, YOUNG, CASPERS, TEIGEN, MARKEN, SIMMER, DE WALLE, WHITE, HARRIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:41

February 17, 1923 --- September 24, 2017

Donald "Red" James Sheriff, 94, of Belmond, passed away at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 7, 2017, at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 1st St. S.E., Belmond. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Memorials may be directed in care of Donald "Red's" family, 740 Hemlock Ct., Mason City, IA 50401.

Born Feb. 17, 1923, in Belmond, IA, Red was the son of William and Frieda (Gealow) Sheriff. Frieda died in 1926, leaving 3-year old Donald along with his 5-year old brother, William Jr., and his 10-month old sister, Arlene. Red was raised by Alice Hedges of Belmond until he was 9 years old. He then returned to the home farm where he attended rural school. He graduated from Belmond High School and attended Iowa State University for one year. Before going into the military service, Red married Margie Johnson, daughter of Julius and Lillie Johnson, on October 16, 1944.

Red was sent to ETO and joined Third Army, 1st Division, 16th Infantry Regiment. He worked up to Assistant, to Sergeant Major, making the rank of Staff Sergeant. After discharge, Red and Margie worked three years on the home farm at Goodell, IA. They rented land in the Thornton area for 20 years. In 1970, they moved to a farm north of Meservey they had purchased years earlier. After 10 years, Don and Margie retired to Belmond.

They traveled the Western states where Red enjoyed his passion for skiing. He was an avid golfer and won various tournaments over the years. Red's other favorite pastimes included playing cards, an occasional outing to the casino, and in earlier years dancing excursions to the Surf with Margie.

A long-term battle with emphysema forced Red to enter the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond at the age of 89. Red was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William Sheriff and half-brother Joseph Sheriff, his sister Arlene Young, a former daughter-in-law Bonnie Caspers, and a great-granddaughter Adeline Sheriff. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Margie Sheriff, Belmond, IA; five children, Linda (Erling) Teigen, Mankato, MN, Jeff (Marva) Sheriff, Champlin, MN, Tim (Judy) Sheriff, Duluth, MN, Greg (Belva) Sheriff, Mason City, IA, and Sandra Marken, Waterloo, IA; 11 grandchildren: Aaron Sheriff, Ryan Sheriff, Mark Sheriff, Brandon Sheriff, Janna Sheriff, Holly Simmer, Rachel De Walle, Collin Sheriff, Alex Marken, Mollie Marken, and Alice White; 17 great-grandchildren, and one precious great-grandchild arriving in November. He is also survived by two half-siblings, Robert (Betty) Sheriff, Belmond, IA, and Beverly Harris, Herndon, VA. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Mason City, IA
October 1, 2017