Donald J. Borel

Donald Junior Borel, 92 years and 3 days, passed away Friday, August 7, 2015 at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services for Don Borel will be held on Monday, August 10, 2015 at 10:30 AM at First United Methodist Church, 201 3^rd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Reverend Mike Gudka officiating. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation for Don Borel will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Don was born August 3, 1923 on a farm north of Holmes, Iowa to Adolph Charles and Lena Rosila (Derkas) Borel. He was the sixth of eight children.  He attended country school and graduated from Galt High School in 1941.  After graduation, Don farmed with his dad and numerous farmers, until his marriage on March 3, 1946 to Darlene Roberta State (his farming partner) at her home near Galt, Iowa.  To this union, three children were born.

The couple’s years of farming were mainly four miles southwest of Clarion.  In 1969, they moved to Clarion, but continued to farm until retiring after the fall harvest in 1998.

The couple enjoyed playing 500 with the card party bunch and dancing at the Surf.  Farming, Don’s life long career, along with Darlene, was a true passion.  Pride was taken in weed free fields, and the raising of hogs, sheep, chickens, and dairy cattle.   It wasn’t unusual for Don to care for a baby farm animal off to a bad start in the house.

Don umpired 4-H boys and girls softball games in the summer and trapped along the streams in the winter.  His fishing passion was year round.  Enjoying the outdoors carried him through not just the fields, but to the lakes and rivers for fishing adventures and family vacations.  Later, with sons-in-law and grandsons, Don created many memories at Big Sauk Lake in Minnesota.  He always had a BIG fish story to tell!

Don was often seen at his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sporting events, and taking a morning walk almost everyday until the snow started to fly late fall of 2014.  His health started to decline and he entered the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center March 27, 2015.

Survivors include his wife Darlene; children Donna Johnson of Kanawha, Janice (Denny) Murphy of Clarion, and Dean Borel of Waterloo; grandchildren Brent (Terra) Johnson, René (Dan) Retterath, Neal (Stephanie) Murphy, Darren (Jody) Johnson, Greg (Leslie) Murphy, Isaiah Borel, and Evan Murphy; great-grandchildren Chloe, Dakota, Jordyn, Remi, Abigail, Jadyn, Kerriann, Indy, Lily, Devin and Madden; and sisters Gladys Blakesley and Josephine Howell.

Don is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Edward (in infancy), Martin, and John; sisters Blanche Tuttle and Marie Hilpipre; and son-in-law Alfred Johnson.