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Donald Ray Tjaden
Donald Ray Tjaden
Iowa City
Donald Ray Tjaden of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away on Feb. 16, 2023, with his loving wife by his side.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. A reception will follow the memorial service. Burial will be later at Wall Lake Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lake View United Methodist Church, 501 Second St., Lake View, IA 51450.
Don was born on May 7, 1934, to Harold and Florence (Westering) Tjaden in Lake City, Iowa. He graduated from Lake View High School and attended the University of South Dakota. He served in the U.S. Army as postmaster in Anchorage, Alaska. After service, he joined his father in business at Tjaden Oil Co. in Lake View. Upon his father’s passing, he owned and operated Tjaden Oil for 36 years until he retired to Iowa City in 1994.
Don married Donna (Thayer) in June of 1956 at Grace Methodist Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Together they had four children: Dr. Rick Tjaden, Scott (Kathy) Tjaden of Carroll, Iowa, Joann (Charles) Lamaak of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Amy (Curtis) Gutoske of Minneapolis, Minn.
Don is survived by his wife of 66 years, Donna, and their three children; sisters, Shirlee Ashbaugh, Janet Zumach and Judy Stehr (Robert); Donna’s brothers, Don (Su) Thayer, Clair Thayer and sisters-in-law, Roma and Carol Smith; 11 grandchildren, Alisha Adams (Sean), Matthew Tjaden, Kevin Tjaden, Melissa (Mark) Allen, Michael Kanne, Sarah Adams (Ryan), Aaron Lamaak (Jaymie), Benjamin Lamaak (Elena), Kyle Lamaak (Kailey), Samuel Gutoske (Kayla) and Ellen Gutoske (Joseph Kelley); along with 16 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Florence; stepfather, Lloyd (Jack) Smith; his son, Rick.
Don will be remembered for his passion for Iowa College sports, great tailgates, traveling the world, golfing, bowling in his early years and always, his love of his wife and family.
He will be greatly missed but we will all cherish the wonderful memories of him, really actually!
Online condolences may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.
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