SIOUX CITY—Donald “Don” Lake, 96, previously of Le Mars, handed away Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at Whispering Creek Assisted Dwelling in Sioux Metropolis.
Donald James Lake, the son of Eldon and Ellen (Easton) Lake, was born Dec. 10, 1926, on the household farm close to Merrill. He was baptized and confirmed on the Merrill United Methodist Church.
Don attended college in Merrill the place he performed basketball and the flute in highschool and was valedictorian of his graduating class. On the age of 17, he began school on the College of South Dakota the place he additionally performed basketball. At age 18, he enlisted in america Navy. After returning house, he earned his pilot’s license and attended courses at Iowa State College.
On Aug. 10, 1952, Don married Joyce Peters and so they had 4 daughters: Barbara, Carol, Dianne, and Nancy. He farmed his household farm for 31 years, till his retirement in 1983 once they moved to Le Mars.
After promoting the farm to his daughter Dianne and son-in-law Joe, Don labored for Toy Nationwide Financial institution in Sioux Metropolis doing trusts and property planning. He continued to assist on the farm by means of his early 90’s. Joyce handed away in 2001.
Don later married Dolores Eberhard Sitzmann and so they lived in Le Mars till November 2021, once they moved to Whispering Creek Assisted Dwelling in Sioux Metropolis.
Don and Joyce had been members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars the place he sang within the church choir and served as congregational president. Don was energetic within the NWIA Farm Enterprise Affiliation, 4-H Basis, Extension Council, Le Mars Faculty District Basis, and Plymouth County Farm Bureau. Don was a Rotary Membership member for over 25 years, managing their ice cream retailer on the Plymouth County Honest for a lot of of these years.
He was an avid reader his entire life. He beloved experimenting and innovation, making a selfmade tractor sprayer, growing a weed wiper, and constructing his personal hog confinement buildings.
Don and Joyce beloved to journey of their retirement years, particularly having fun with Elderhostel journeys with mates Norm and Ruth Barker.
Survivors embody his spouse, Dolores of Sioux Metropolis; 4 kids: Barb (Ken) Becicka of Central Metropolis, Carol (Mick) Snell of Hampton, Dianne (Joe) Rotta of Merrill, and Nancy (Brian) Balm of Phoenix, Arizona; six stepchildren: Suzanne Wiltgen of Sioux Metropolis, Larry (Bev) Sitzmann of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Arnie (Deb) Sitzmann of Grayston, Georgia, Carl (Jayne) Sitzmann of West Des Moines, Jody (Gina) Sitzmann of Sioux Metropolis, and Rosalie (John) Vollmar of Eagan, Minnesota; 10 grandchildren: Troy (Deanna) Becicka, Todd (Meredith) Becicka, Ryan (Sarah) Snell, Jared (Serah) Snell, Andrew (Emily) Rotta, Lynnae (Michael) Dykstra, Melissa Rotta, Kelli (Curt) Hood, Alex (Alie) Balm, and Taylor Balm (fiancé, Mariah); 14 step-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 29 step-great-grandchildren; a brother: Stan (Lorraine) Lake of Sebring, Florida; and quite a few nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in loss of life by his dad and mom; his first spouse, Joyce; and his sister, Marjorie (Leo) Jividen.
A Celebration of Life Service shall be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 8, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars with the Rev. Christian Meier officiating. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. on the church with a time of lunch and fellowship following the service. Army honors shall be supplied by the Wasmer American Legion Put up 241 of Le Mars. Personal household internment was held beforehand at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill.
Preparations are by Rexwinkel Funeral Residence in Le Mars.
In lieu of flowers, memorial presents could also be directed to the Le Mars Public Library or the Plymouth County Honest.
Expressions of sympathy might be prolonged to the household by means of www.rexwinkelfh.com.
