Donald V. Mckale

Donald Vincent Mc Kale, 97 of Toledo, Iowa died on June 10, 2011 at Carrington Place in Toledo, Iowa.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at Christ United Methodist Church in Toledo, Iowa. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Donalds name. For condolences please visit; www.mitchellfh.com . Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown is caring for Donald and his family. Phone 641-844-1234. Donald was born on April 15, 1914 in Exeter Township in Kansas. He was the son of Fred and Georgia(Woodhams) McKale. He spent his early years helping his family on the farm. It was then he learned what hard work was and how to drive and farm with draft horses. He was united in marriage to Mildred Alice Wedd on June 12, 1935. They made their home on Mildreds home farm near Longford, Kansas and had four children and raised Mildreds brother, Ralph and sister, Marian. In 1953 the McKales moved to Storm Lake, Iowa and in 1963 to Toledo, Iowa where they owned and operated the L-Ranko Motel. Don drove a school bus for South Tama Community School district and bought and sold livestock and farmed with his beloved horses. He earned notoriety throughout the Midwest for his participation in horse pulling contests. In 2006 he was inducted into the Iowa Draft Horse Hall of Fame at the Iowa State Fair. Don was most happy when with his family and cherished their times together. He loved working with his horses, the parades, giving rides ,and entering horse pulls. Don had many friends and would help anyone. He loved visiting and his noon meals at the Dairy Queen with his buddies. He belonged to The Christ United Methodist Church of Toledo where he was head usher for years and the official bell ringer.He was also a member of the Republican National Committee. Don touched many lives and will be greatly missed.He is survived by his daughters; Georgia (Ordell) Matzdorff, Coleene Nelson Havens, and Ellen Dolezal all of Toledo, Iowa and a son, Donald (Janna) McKale of Clemson, South Carolina, Seven grandchildren; Alan(Keri) Matzdorff , Bruce(Dawn) Matzdorff, Tom (Faith) Matzdorff, Steve(Mercy) Dolezal, Emily(Rob) Stencil, David(Crystal) McKale, Susan(Charles) Lloyd, and eleven great-grandchildren, brother-in-law, Ralph(Jacque)Wedd, sisters-in-law, Ruth Parkinson, and Marian Bickley, many nieces and nephews.Donald was preceded in death by his loving wife Mildred, of nearly 70 years , his parents, infant sister, Bonnie , sister, Dorothy Marquerite Todd, brother, Waldo Dale McKale, and granddaughter, Traci Jo Tieskoetter.