In Loving Memory
Donald Spencer

VISITATION
Monday, January 30, 2017
9:30 - 10:30 A.M.
Holy Cross Resurrection Chapel
Ruthven, Iowa

SERVICE
Monday, January 30, 2017
10:30 A.M.
Holy Cross Resurrection Chapel
Ruthven, Iowa

CONCELEBRANTS
Rev. Peter Nguyen
Rev. Richard Ries

ORGANIST
Darrell Weishaar

VOCALIST
Margaret Molitor

INTERMENT
Thorton Cemetery
Van Meter, Iowa

Donald William Spencer, son of William Charles and Mary Elizabeth (Jungman) Spencer, was born January 11, 1922 at the family home in Valley Junction, Iowa (now West Des Moines, Iowa). He was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ruthven. Don received his education in West Des Moines and graduated from Valley High School in 1940.

At the age of 16, Don began working at Meredith Publishing in the binding department for Better Homes and Gardens magazine. After graduating he took a job at a locker processing plant in Van Meter. After the sudden death of his father, Don and his mother moved to Ruthven to begin farming near Lost Island Lake. Besides farming, Don also worked at the Ruthven and Spencer lockers butchering and cutting meat.

Don was a bachelor for twenty years until he met the love of his life, Ruth Lucille Brock. They were married on December 29, 1962 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer, Iowa. They had a wonderful life working side by side on their farm. They loved to dance and were active members of the LaDanza Dance Club in Spencer.

Don was a two-term State Legislator, serving District 4 in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1975 - 1979. In 1978, Don received the Iowa State Police Association award recognizing his dedication and outstanding contribution toward law enforcement legislation.

Don served as vice-chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. He also served on the committees of Energy, Judiciary and Law Enforcement, Ways and Means and the Budget Subcommittee on Transportation. Don was the chief sponsor of successful legislation signed by former Governor Robert Ray preventing the Iowa Conservation Commission from constructing a new marina at Gull Point State Park, on West Okoboji. He actively supported property tax relief, health care, transportation for the elderly and lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for senior citizens. He worked to insure education as a top priority in Iowa, by supporting increases in state aid to primary and secondary education and promoting tuition grant programs.

Don was a member of Farm Bureau, Ruthven and Dickens Co-op Elevators and Ruthven Co-op Oil.

Don was raised in the Catholic faith and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ruthven. He served as Trustee of Calvary Cemetery for twenty five years.

Don's faith was very important to him and in 1997 he and Ruth built the Holy Cross Resurrection Chapel south of their home. The chapel was open for public use, celebrating weddings, funerals, and weekend church services.

Don passed away Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Ruthven Community Care Center at the age of 95. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth on April 2, 2015; a sister, Vivian Tuttle and her husband, Clyde "Jake"; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Florence and Bert Brock, Boyd Brock, and Lucille and Anthony Arbisi.

Survivors include his niece, Judy Tuttle Coldiron and her husband, Bill; Ruth's nieces, Nancy Brock Welle and Linda Brock Schomaker; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dale and Liz Brock, Wayne and Dorine Brock, and Jean and Kerry Charlet his loyal friends, Willie Bielfeldt, Larry Swingen, Peter Hart and Rev. Peter Nguyen; as well as other relatives and friends.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home