Don worked as a machinist at John Deere in Waterloo for 30 years, and on April 30, 2017, he had been retired for 30 years. He also served on the Brandon Fire Department for 30 years. He loved the family farm with this being his 54th crop year. He raised his family on the “home farm” (in the family since 1874) and in 1988, retired to Independence while continuing to actively farm with custom helpers.
Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen, three daughters, Janet (Scott) Miller of Long Beach, New York, Donna Finley, of Waterloo, and Linda (Bud) Sondag of Evansdale, and one son, Russell Finley, living on the family farm at Brandon. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Robert Derifield, Kelly Steimel, Abby Copp, Kayla Putnam, Gregory Sondag, Amanda, Dustin, Samantha, Danielle and Cole Finley, Caryn Burton, and Ky Miller, his great grandchildren, Nathan Novak, Lynndzie and Corbin Putnam, Maribelle Sondag, Madison Derifield, Maison, Leyton, and Emmalyn Copp, Elexis and Hunter Steimel, Briley Long, and Caley Burton, and 1 great-great granddaughter, Emma Grace Long. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and an infant brother, Terry Gene.
Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at the White Funeral Home in Independence. Family Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday, August 16th, at Brandon Cemetery in Brandon, Iowa, with Rev. Greg DeBoer officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons Robert Derifield, Gregory Sondag, Dustin Finley, Cole Finley and grandson-in-laws, Christopher Copp and Wade Putnam.
Don worked as a machinist at John Deere in Waterloo for 30 years, and on April 30, 2017, he had been retired for 30 years. He also served on the Brandon Fire Department for 30 years. He loved the family farm with this being his 54th crop year. He raised his family on the “home farm” (in the family since 1874) and in 1988, retired to Independence while continuing to actively farm with custom helpers.
Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen, three daughters, Janet (Scott) Miller of Long Beach, New York, Donna Finley, of Waterloo, and Linda (Bud) Sondag of Evansdale, and one son, Russell Finley, living on the family farm at Brandon. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Robert Derifield, Kelly Steimel, Abby Copp, Kayla Putnam, Gregory Sondag, Amanda, Dustin, Samantha, Danielle and Cole Finley, Caryn Burton, and Ky Miller, his great grandchildren, Nathan Novak, Lynndzie and Corbin Putnam, Maribelle Sondag, Madison Derifield, Maison, Leyton, and Emmalyn Copp, Elexis and Hunter Steimel, Briley Long, and Caley Burton, and 1 great-great granddaughter, Emma Grace Long. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and an infant brother, Terry Gene.
Friends may call for visitation from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at the White Funeral Home in Independence. Family Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday, August 16th, at Brandon Cemetery in Brandon, Iowa, with Rev. Greg DeBoer officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons Robert Derifield, Gregory Sondag, Dustin Finley, Cole Finley and grandson-in-laws, Christopher Copp and Wade Putnam.
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