Don Wipf

Donnis “Don” Elwin Wipf, age 72, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024. Don was surrounded in those final hours by those he loved most in this world. Don was born March 2, 1951 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he would later graduate from Washington High School. In his youth, Don enjoyed raising rabbits and received many ribbons participating in competitions from showing them. This was also around the time his curiosity and love for hunting started. Don spent many South Dakota hunting seasons alongside his Dad and Uncles. The love for the hunt was then passed down to his own sons and grandsons, who would always look forward to hunting season. Don particularly enjoyed hunting deer, pheasant, turkey, and Canadian geese. For many years, Don would host a wild game feed at the shop on the family acreage, where he enjoyed serving hundreds of fellow hunters, friends, employees and family. During his high school years, Don was part of the gymnastics team which would bring along a scholarship to Iowa State University. There he was part of gymnastics and cheerleading. Don served in the Army, including Army National Guard, from 1969-1978 and was a rank of E6. Don began in Fort Leonardwood in Missouri where he was part of AIT and MOS but would then transfer to Fort Ord to prepare for deployment. Don performed stateside teaching MOS of communications and ran wire to observations points for headquarters. Don was also involved in the flood of Pectola Damn in Rapid City, South Dakota after it breached, where he assisted with medics and rescue efforts. Don spoke of the strong friendships, particularly those from MOS, that he forged while serving.

Don would then move to Iowa in his twenties to begin his work in the HVAC industry. Over the next 44 years Don would become one of the best selling entrepreneurial HVAC contractors in the state of Iowa, earning several awards of recognition along the way. During those early years Don would meet the love of his life, Jona, and together raise four children over the next 41 years of marriage. Don enjoyed providing for his family, it was truly how he loved them best. Don’s hard work allowed him to enjoy life with his family in many ways over the years, including building a go-cart track on the family acreage, family boat trips to Lake of the Ozarks or racing down the highway in his black Ford Thunderbird - beautiful bride to his right. Don also enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers, having his grandchildren for sleepovers, camping and boating at Saylorville from opening to closing season and a good meal accompanied by a Crown and Coke or two. Don was known for his generosity and his adult children would rarely leave the house without being given something to take along with them. He lived for loving Jona, who he would spoil with roses, beautifully written cards or serenades before bed. She was his soulmate who selflessly cared for Don through sickness and in health.

Don was preceded in death by parents Elwin Hardin and Laverne Wipf and sister Regine. Don is survived by his mother Laverna McMartin and his father Bob McMartin, sisters Valette Hamilton and Karris Neuman, wife Jona; son, Jon Moorhead (Kathy), daughter, Joy Tomes; daughter April Mahler (Travis), son, Dustin Wipf (Kim). Don enjoyed and loved his many grandchildren, which included three great grandchildren, Dallas (Abby), Rayahna, Donovan, Annabelle, Kaden, Christian, London, Dahlia, Atticus, Kieran and Lillian. Don was known for being extremely silly with his grandchildren and handing out “money honeys” in exchange for bits of knowledge he tasked them with memorizing. One of his favorite things to do was teach them colorful marching cadences, which all the grandchildren enjoyed reciting together alongside their Grandpa. Don loved being a Grandpa and his grandchildren are blessed to be left with such fun memories of him.

Services will be held at Adventure Life Church, 1700 8th Street SW, Altoona, IA 50009. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday January 30th, 2024. Funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 31st 2024 at Adventure Life Church. Burial will follow at Berwick Cemetery. Don and family would love nothing more than for friends and family to join them back at the church following burial for food and fellowship.

In the words of Don, “The bigger the better, the more the merrier, the party never ends”.

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