Donald Goodell

Services for Donald Goodell, 91, of Lake Park will be 10:30 am, Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Visitation will begin at 4 pm, Monday, June 6, 2016 with the family present from 5-7 pm at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Interment will be at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park. Donald Richard Goodell, the son of Bessie (Snow) and Glenn Goodell, was born January 13, 1925, in Excelsior Township in Dickinson County, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Excelsior High School in 1942. After graduation Don farmed with his brother Clayton for three years on the Belle McLaren farm. On January 8, 1950, he was united in marriage to Betty McClurg at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Two daughters and three sons were born into this union. Don was a farmer all his life. In 1975 he became a Pioneer sales and chemical representative for 16 years. He and Betty continued farming until 1990 when they moved to their home on Silver Lake and enjoyed many years of happy retirement with family and friends. Throughout his life Don valued his community. He served on the Harris -Lake Park School Board and the Farmers Exchange Board and was active at the Excelsior Methodist Church. He was an honorary chapter member of the Harris-Lake Park FFA. In his later years he supported the Lake Park Historical Museum and helped to maintain it. Don was a generous, kindhearted and humble father, grandfather and friend. He taught his family the value of education and hard work. He took many opportunities to travel and encouraged his family to do the same. Don was always fully present for all musical concerts, sporting activities and celebratory events throughout the generations. Family could always count on him for encouragement and support. Don passed away peacefully at home in Lake Park, Iowa on Friday, June 3rd at ninety-one years of age. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty (McClurg) Goodell; children Barb (Greg) Stephanie of Bloomington, MN, Bruce (Jeri) Goodell of Lake Park IA , Gary (Jan Hanson) Goodell of Union Grove, WI, Brian (Michelle) Goodell of Lake Park IA, Becky (Todd) Hummel of Spirit Lake; twelve grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren; his brothers, Oran (LaVonne) of Alexandria, MN and Leon (Gladys) Goodell of Lake Park, IA; sisters, Joyce Monier and Chet Thorn of Sibley, IA, Betty Buchman of Heber Springs, AZ, June Butterfield of Preston, Idaho, and sister-in-law Eloise Goodell of Lake Park; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clayton and Jack; sister Olive Mills; brothers-in-law, Dayton Monier, Carl Sohn, Charles Buchman and Lawrence Mills; sister-in-law, Donna Goodell.