Donald N. Wingrove

Donald Nelson Wingrove was born in Washington Township, Arion, Iowa on March 24, 1926, to Herbert Nelson and Bertha Louise Wingrove. He passed away December 5, 2017, at Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa, at the age of ninty-one.
He attended Washington #3 County School graduating at the 8th grade. Don entered the Navy on July 20, 1944, at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. He attended Landing Craft School in Coronado, California, and was assigned to Waipio Amphibious Operating Base in the Pacific Ocean. After schooling, Don was assigned to USS LCI (G) 471 at Pearl Harbor and traveled the Pacific, including offshore support to the islands of Guam, Saipan, Mariana, etc… and NAD, Seal Beach, California. He received the Presidential Unit Citation for his ship island duties. He ended his tour at Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 15, 1946.
Don married Joan McDonald on May 21, 1949, at the Methodist Chapel in Denison, Iowa. To this union five children were born. Joan passed away September 1995. Don married Arlene Hartwig in December 1996, at the Methodist Church in Eldora, Iowa. Arlene passed away November 2013.
During Don’s life he had many occupations that included farming, truck driving, maintenance, factory work, gas stations and managing mobile home parks, which was his favorite job because he met many nice people. Don is a member of the American Legion. Don’s hobbies included woodworking, ceramics and bingo. Don was privileged to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He enjoyed it the most when Governor Chet Culver shook his hand. Don was instrumental in getting the World War II Veteran’s Memorial erected at the Iowa Veterans Home. He was also interviewed for his time in the Navy for the Congressional Library.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; both his wives; two daughters; two brothers; and three great- granddaughters. He is survived by his three sons: Wendell(Trish); Wayne(Vicky); and Gary; fourteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law, David and Kim.