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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Thursday, December 31, 2015
Donald Risdal
Age: 83
City: Atkins
Funeral Date
10:30 a.m. Monday, 1/4, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Atkins
Funeral Home
Phillips Funeral Home, Vinton
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Donald Risdal
DONALD "RIZZY" RISDAL
Atkins
Donald "Rizzy" Risdal, 83, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, at his residence following a sudden illness.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, with the Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Interment will be at St. Stephen's Cemetery near Atkins, with graveside military rites conducted by Adolph H. Schueler American Legion Post 217 of Atkins and Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church in Atkins.
A memorial fund has been established for St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Friends of the Shelter in Vinton or a charity of the donor's choice.
Donald was born March 5, 1932, in Atkins to Orvie and Rose (Schueler) Risdal, and graduated from Atkins High School in 1950. He served his nation in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of Adolph Schueler American Legion Post 217 of Atkins and VFW in Cedar Rapids.
On June 1, 1957, he was united in marriage to Joan Shaw at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death in October 1978.
"Rizzy" owned Don Risdal Builder in Atkins and was a skilled woodworker.
He was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins.
He loved spending time with family, especially with grand- and great-grandchildren during the holidays. He enjoyed football and NASCAR. He truly enjoyed being involved in the construction of the fellowship addition to his church. "Rizzy" was a cat and St. Bernard dog lover.
He is survived by his partner in life for 36 years, Diane Beatty; his daughters, Sue (Rich) Blattler and Stacy (Gordon Grant) Murphy, both of Shellsburg; his grandchildren, Chris Blattler, Kelsey (Scottie) Fish and Cody (Cassie Lacher) Willman; his great-grandchildren, Caleb and Carmyn Blattler and Carver Fish; Diane's children, Shelley (Rob Koopman) Lauterwasser and Deborah (Terry) Larson, and grandchildren, Brandon and Austin Lauterwasser; his brothers-in-law, Melvin Oberhokamp and Jim (Nancy) Shaw; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Elaine Voss.
Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.phillips
funeralhomes.com.