Donald Simmons

October 23, 1926 - January 30, 2019

Donald “Sneaky Pete” Simmons, 92, of Oskaloosa died Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa. He was born October 23, 1926, in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Ralph and Lottie Brownley Simmons. He attended Grinnell High School. In 1944, Donald was drafted, this was the beginning of his career in the military. He served for 20 years in the Army and the Air Force and traveled and lived all over the world. He retired from the Air Force in 1965. Following his retirement from the military he worked for area farmers and for AE Dairy. On June 8, 1950, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Silvers in Oskaloosa. To this union five children were born, Linda, Theresa, William, Kenneth, and Patricia. Carolyn and Donald later divorced. In 1972, he was united in marriage to Val Iwanicki. Val died in 1987. For the past 30 years he enjoyed the company of Lela Keller, the two of them enjoyed traveling and going to Polka dances. Lela died in April of 2018. Don was a talented mechanic and enjoyed working on cars. He also enjoyed fishing and going to Old Threshers and the Iowa State Fair every year. He enjoyed being out and about and always “on the go”. He is survived by three children, Linda (Gary) Rupprecht of Fremont, William (Tracy) Simmons of Union, Missouri, and Kenneth Simmons of Tulsa, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Ron Rupprecht, Rhonda Rupprecht, Robert Rupprecht, Doug Rexroth, Amanda Wales, Thomas Wales, Aaron Simmons, Melissa Baker, and Matthew Simmons; twelve great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, two sisters, Mary Jean and Eileen; and two daughters, Patricia Simmons and Theresa Wales. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 4, 2019, at 1 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Darren Melton of the Gateway Church of the Nazarene in Oskaloosa officiating. Burial will be in the Westfield Cemetery near Grinnell. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation with the family present will be held on Monday from 11 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family.