Don “Bulldozer” Downing

Don “Bulldozer” Downing, 90, of Fontanelle, passed away Friday, May 26, 2023, at his home. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, June 10 at the United Methodist Church in Fontanelle with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Desserts and fellowship with the family will be held at the church following the burial. Open visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m., with the family to greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 9 at Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle. is in charge of the professional arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Fontanelle Fire Department. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Don “Bulldozer” Downing was born June 27, 1932, in Shannon City to Jesse “Lee” and Velma (Stradley) Downing in Shannon City. Don was raised on the family farm and helped his parents by driving tractors, milking cows and planting crops. He attended Orient High School.

In 1952 he married the love of his life, Joan Lowe, shortly after they met. To this union, four children were born: Dennis, Richard, Sherilyn and Bradley.

Over the years Don worked as a truck driver and a large machinery operator. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad and several local contractors including Cummins Construction (Fontanelle) and Sterling McLaren (Shenandoah). He retired in 1997 as project supervisor from McAninch Corporation (Des Moines).

Don was the very definition of a hard-working, salt-of-the-earth, life-loving character. He was loved by his family, friends, and community for his always-present sense of humor. Don was a natural born storyteller, often leaving his audience laughing while they tried to figure out if his story was true or if he was pulling their leg. He always had time for a story and had a way of turning other people’s bad days to good ones.

Don loved working on his vintage truck and restoring John Deere mowers. Affectionately known as the “Energizer Bunny,” he worked on his vehicles until just a few weeks before he passed. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling throughout the US, rodeos and sports.

He was preceded in death by his infant son, Bradley; his parents, Lee and Velma; his brother, Lee Ray; sister Nadean and his in-laws, Ed and Eva Lowe.

Don is survived by his wife of 71 years, Joan Downing of Fontanelle; two sons, Dennis “Denny” (Julie) Downing of Panora and Richard “Rick” (Mary) Downing ofDenver, Colorado; daughter, Sherilyn “Muff” (Vern) Whitman of Fontanelle; 10 grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; nephew, Gary Lowe and his wife Marie of Orient, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.