Don Staples, 77, of Clarion passed away Monday, October 7, 2013 at his home in
Clarion.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at St.
John's Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Monsignor
Joseph Slepicka officiating. Burial will be at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in
Arcadia at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 17, 2013.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at
Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East, in Clarion with a Scriptural Wake
Service beginning at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to
services at the church on Wednesday.
Donald Wilbur Staples was born April 24, 1936 to Ted and Margaret (Schroeder)
Staples in Carroll. Don graduated from Arcadia High School with the class of
1954 and enlisted in the Army Reserves.
Don was united in marriage to Gail Long on June 21, 1958, and to this union,
nine children were born.
Don worked at the Arcadia Locker for several years before he and the family
moved to Clarion, where he owned and operated the locker until 1998. Don also
worked at the Chicken Inn in Halbur, Farmland Foods in Denison, Piccadilly
Circus Pizza in Clarion, Monsanto in Clarion and for the City of Clarion.
Don loved horses and participated in many horse shows around the area. He also
enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and trips to the casino.
Don was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion, and formerly a member
of St. John's in Arcadia. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World, and
served as a volunteer fire fighter in Arcadia.
Don is survived by his wife Gail Staples of Clarion; children Steve Staples of
Arcadia, Iowa, Mike Staples of Krum, Texas, Nancy (Jim) Herrig of Wall Lake,
Iowa, Donna (Ron) Peterson of Carroll, Iowa, Joan Fleener of Wall Lake, Lisa
(Marty) Beachy of Britt, Iowa, Susie (fiance' Ronnie Barnett) Bird of Ute, Iowa,
and Kevin (Karen) Staples of Goldfield, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 7
great-grandchildren; one sister Carol (Wayne) Molak Eich of Arcadia; one
brother-in-law Clete Behrens of Carroll; along with 10 nieces and nephews, other
family members and friends.
Don is preceded in death by his daughter Sherri Greenlee, his parents Ted and
Margaret Staples, parents-in-law Lambert and Marie Long, a sister-in-law Sandy
Behrens, and a brother-in-law Frank Molak.