DONALD H.  PINGEL , 84, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in the Cherokee Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 29 ^th at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Rev. Eric Wright will officiate. Burial will be in the Afton Township Cemetery at rural Cherokee, Iowa. There will be military rights at the graveside by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F. W. and the American Legion. There will be a family prayer at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Monday. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. with the family present from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home at Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com In lieu of flowers the family request memorials in Don's name to a fund that is being established in his memory.

Don was born August 12, 1934 at Cherokee, Iowa to Harry and Rosena (Roggow) Pingel. He graduated from Aurelia High School in 1953. He was married to Janice Kintigh on December 19, 1959 at Aurelia, Iowa. Don served in the Iowa National Guard for 8 years from 1953 – 1961.

Don farmed with his family on the family farm in Afton Township his whole life. He was also a bus driver for the Aurelia Schools for several years. He had worked at Friesen's (now Meridian Inc.) in Storm Lake and drove truck hauling hogs for Twin Valley for many years.

Don had been a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Afton Township and was currently affiliated with the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee. He was a member of the Cherokee County Fair Board, was a 4-H leader for 30 years, and a member of the Iowa State Rabbit Association. Don raised and showed rabbits and helped kids find rabbits to show at the fair. He taught the kids how to take care of the rabbits and he also enjoyed raising bottle calves.

Don enjoyed bowling, playing cards, roller skating and polka dancing in his younger years.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Rosena Pingel; his parents-in-law Robert and Ethel Kintigh; sister LaVonne Smith; brother Ivan Pingel; sister-in-law LuAnn Smith; brother-in-law Robert Smith.

He is survived by his wife Janice of Cherokee, Iowa; four children: Darla (Todd) Anderson of Alta, IA; Dennis (Kim) Pingel of Cherokee, IA; Dawn Pingel and special friend Jesse of Cherokee, IA; Joni (Aaron) De Vos of Cherokee, IA; 7 grandchildren: Amanda Pingel and fiancé Bradon  of Mankato, MN; Mitchell Sangl and special friend Taryn  of Brookings, SD; Brady Pingel of Meriden, IA; Breeana, Maxwell, Nicole, and Gerrit De Vos of Cherokee, IA; 3 great grandchildren: Keeley Longhenry, Braylon and Ruxon Wall; three brothers: Myron (Joyce) Pingel of Cherokee, IA; Robert (Judy) Pingel of Underwood, IA; Dean (Linda) Pingel of Spencer, IA; brother-in-law Jon Smith of Sac City, IA; sister-in-law Connie Pingel of Latimer, IA; sister-in-law Betty Smith of Cherokee, IA; also many nieces, nephews, and cousins