Donald J. Schmalen

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
DONALD “DON” J. SCHMALEN

BORN
March 12, 1955
Emmetsburg, Iowa

PASSED AWAY
June 22, 2009
Hartley, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 A.M. Thursday, June 25, 2009
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Sheldon, Iowa
Celebrant: Father Robert J. Schimmer
VISITATION
will be after 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24
at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sheldon,
with the family present from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.,
a Scripture wake service will be held at 7:00 p.m.
a Knight of Columbus rosary at 7:30 p.m.
all at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sheldon.


MUSIC
“You Are Mine”
Psalm 23 “Shepherd Me, O God”
“On Eagle’s Wings”
“Song Of Farewell”
“Let There Be Peace On Earth”
Organist: Laura Wagner

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Mark Cunningham John Cunningham
John Mulder Larry Christians
Roger Nath Tom Buss
CASKET BEARERS
Tim Thilges Tony Thilges
Joe Thilges Corey Thilges
Dan Hrubetz Don Cunningham

FINAL RESTING PLACE
Graveside Service
2:30 P.M. Thursday, June 25, 2009
St. John’s Catholic Cemetery ~ Emmetsburg, Iowa

After today’s service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home
DONALD “DON” J. SCHMALEN

Donald “Don” John Schmalen, the son of John and Marjorie (Cunningham) Schmalen was born March 12, 1955 at Emmetsburg, IA. He grew-up on a farm near Ayrshire, IA, where he attended Ayrshire schools and graduated from Ayrshire High School in 1973. Don furthered his education in Emmetsburg at the Iowa Lakes Farm Equipment Mechanics. After graduating from college Don worked for Harms Implement in Everly, IA. He purchased a dairy farm in Perham, MN in 1981. On April 24, 1982, Don was united in marriage to Marilee Willms at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer, IA. After their marriage the couple made their home in Perham and in 1984, they returned to Everly and Don went back to work at Harms Implement. In 1994, Don and Marilee purchased the C&H Supply in Sheldon, which they owned and operated until 2006. Don drove a feed truck for Deluxe Feeds of Sheldon for a short while and in 2007, he became the Service Manager for Spencer International. Don passed away on Monday, June 22, 2009 due to injuries received in an auto accident near Hartley, IA, reaching the age of 54 years, 3 months and 10 days
He was a member of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheldon, the Sheldon Knights of Columbus #1564. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, spending time with his family, taking vacations and working on his house, Don could fix anything. He always dreamed of owning his own Tractor Service Shop. Don enjoyed visiting with people and he always had a story or a joke.
Don is survived by his wife, Marilee of Sheldon; and their three children, Annette “Annie” and her husband, Chris Welday-Zimney of Houston, TX; Nicholas “Nick” and his wife, Jessica Schmalen of Spirit Lake, IA and Michael “Mike” Schmalen of Sheldon and his friend, Cait Carr of Wayzata, MN; his mother, Marjorie Schmalen of Emmetsburg, Iowa; two sisters, Darlene and her husband, Robert Thilges of West Bend, IA; Mary and her husband, Mike Peck of Colorado Springs, CO; his mother-in-law, Marge Willms and her husband Victor Scholten of Sheldon; and a sister-in-law, Susan and her husband, Bob Maxson of Concordia, KS; also nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Schmalen; who was killed in an auto accident on the same day that Don was born; his father-in-law, Howard Willms; and two uncles, Robert and Marvin Cunningham.