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Obituaries » Donald L. Ficek

Donald L. Ficek

June 22, 1946 - January 25, 2023

Service Date: January 31, 2023

Funeral Home Memorial Services of Iowa

Church Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

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Donald Ludwig Ficek, 76, died January 25, 2023, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, IA.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 30, 2023, at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA). A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (517 SW Des Moines St, Ankeny, IA). Don’s final resting place will be at Ankeny Memorial Gardens. The memorial service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://bit.ly/htlc-funeral

Don was born on June 22, 1946, in Dickinson, ND to Ludwig and Emma (Privratsky) Ficek. He grew up in Dickinson, graduated from Campus High School in 1964, and continued his studies at Dickinson State University. During this time, he began his lifelong career with the U.S. Postal Service.

He married Bonita (Bonnie) Rae Zander on August 3, 1968, at St. John Lutheran Church in Dickinson. It was in Dickinson where they made their home and family for nearly forty-four years. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2002 and continued employment with the Steffes Corporation from 2004 to 2012.

Don and Bonnie moved to Ankeny, IA to be closer to their children and grandchildren and made many good friends in their new home at Villas at Stonewater and their church, Holy Trinity Lutheran. Don worked for five years as a bus attendant for disabled students in the Ankeny School District.  He said it was the “best job he ever had”. Over the last ten years, they have enjoyed their retirement on many traveling excursions. Among them were Alaska, Iceland (Don’s favorite), Portugal, countries of Scandinavia, and cruises on the Rhine, Danube, and Mediterranean.

Known to many as “Mr. Fix-It,” Don enjoyed numerous hobbies including woodworking, tinkering in the garage, making projects in his shop, riding motorcycles, and playing cards. His greatest accomplishment was raising his three daughters. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren: playing games, flying kites, telling jokes, and attending his grandchildren’s activities.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; three daughters, Dawn Rae (Allen) Bauman of Grimes, IA, Kari Uhl of Grimes, IA and her children, Carson and Sydney, and Tara (Christopher) LaRowe of Sun Prairie, WI and their children Jack and Eva; siblings, Gordon (Roberta) Ficek, Dennis Ficek, and Dale Ficek all of Dickinson, ND, and Gary (Vicki Bergman) Ficek of Fargo, ND;  and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Don was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Ficek; and his parents.

Don’s family would like to thank all the wonderful people that have been part of his life. He has been blessed to know each of you and considered you a friend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Ankeny, IA), St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Dickinson, ND) or Badland Ministries (Medora, ND).

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