Donald Wiele

Donald Norman Wiele, of Ankeny, Iowa, passed away on April 2, 2017 at the age of 82. He was born on July 20, 1934 to Virgil and Marvel Wiele of Grandview, Iowa. While helping out on the family farm, Don raised Chester White pigs and entered them in local livestock shows. He developed his musical talents by learning to play the piano and accordion, and later by singing in Barbershop choruses.

Don joined the army in 1953, and after his first 8 weeks of basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he married his sweetheart, Marsha Joan Fisher, on January 26, 1954. After the wedding, he returned to Fort Leonard Wood to complete his training. He served at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and Fort Benning, Georgia. After leaving the Army in 1955, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He worked as an engineer for the Bendix Corporation in Davenport, Iowa and in Utica, New York, and for Rockwell International in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was honored to have a part in designing and manufacturing components of the spacecraft for NASA’s Mercury space missions. After his retirement, Don and Marsha moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas. They moved back to Iowa in 2004, where Marsha passed away in 2006 at the age of 69.

Don’s hobbies included gardening, boating, woodworking, square dancing, singing, reading, and playing card games. He made delicious raspberry freezer jam, and shared his garden produce with those in need. He built his own small hydroplane, which he called “The Skipper”, and enjoyed taking his family for boat rides. His grandchildren were blessed with handmade cradles and rocking horses. Don was known as a very competitive card-player, and all of his children and grandchildren enjoyed playing 500, Hearts, and other games at big family gatherings.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Lyndal Wiele and Lamoine Wiele, by his wife Marsha (Fisher) Wiele, and by two grandsons – Brian Rogan and Nicholas Sikes. He is survived by his four daughters – Joy Wiele of Champagne, Illinois, DeAnne Sikes of Ankeny, Iowa, Brenda Rogan of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Melinda Woosley of Austin, Texas, and by 7 grandchildren (Jeremy Sikes, Jonathan Rogan, Anna Horvath, Amanda Kai, Benjamin Rogan, Lindsey Hohulin, and Ryan Woosley), and 15 great-grandchildren.
A visitation will take place on Friday, April 7th at 9:00 am at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa, with the funeral service following at 10:00 am. The burial service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Muscatine, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Kindred Hospice, 5399 Chimra Road, Panora, Iowa 50216.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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