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David Henry Long

March 6, 1943 - April 6, 2017

David Henry Long of Ankeny passed away April 6, 2017. The visitation will be Wednesday, April 12 from 1-3 PM, followed by a service at 3 PM and lunch at 4 PM — all at Ankeny Memorial Funeral Home (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.), Ankeny, IA. David was born March 6, 1943 in Algona, Iowa, to Howard Milford Long and Mary Wilma Tjaden Long. He grew up on a farm near Algona, walked to country school uphill one way, and started his own hay baling business in high school with his friend Jack Vipond. Dave earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Northern Iowa, taught American history, government, economics , and debate, earned an M.S. in Urban & Regional Planning from Iowa State University, and served as Director of Governmental Relations for the Iowa League of Municipalities for 12 years. He taught public administration at DMACC, volunteered at On With Life Brain Injury Facility, coached Little League, loved to play chess with his children and grandchildren, and helped the Boy Scouts with camping, Pinewood Derby competitions, and father-son cake bakes. He is survived by his wife Shirley, two sons Andrew & Jim, and Jim’s wife Sarah and their children, Aria & Malcolm, his brother Roger (Mary), his sister Cindy (Dave Loebach) — and many loved nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends. He enjoyed discussing politics & philosophy with his sisters-in-law Lucy & Barb & his in-law cousins around the country. Dave enjoyed giving big hugs to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John & Doris Hansen. He liked westerns, including John Wayne, Waterhole #3, & Hallelujah Trail, all of which he watched many times. Dave & his wife Shirley liked Johnny Cash concerts, Roger Miller songs, and classical music. Dave was hard to beat at chess. He had many dear friends in AA, of which he was a member for the last 24 years. He was a great friend to many people, and we were happy to have him for 74 years in this earthly sphere of the multiverse.