Donald N. Welter, 77, of Bankston, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at his home.

Visitation for Don will be held from 2 to 7 p.m., on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 1:30 p.m.  Visitation will also be held after 9 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial for Don will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Epworth, Iowa with Rev. Michael Schueller presiding.  Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Epworth with full military honors by the Epworth American Legion John White Post #650.

Don was born September 22, 1947, in Farley, Iowa, son of Carl and Mary (Griffin) Welter.  He was a 1965 graduate of Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, Iowa.  He was a veteran, having served as a Sergeant in the Air Force from 1965 to 1968.  On August 11, 1973, he was united in marriage to Alice Hammerand at St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church in Dubuque, Iowa.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Epworth and a member of the Epworth American Legion John White Post #650.

He lived as a country boy at heart all of his life.  He loved being outdoors.  Simple things in life gave him pleasure.  He especially enjoyed time with family, farming, fishing, gardening, and basking in the sunshine or just relaxing with his beloved wife of nearly 52 years.  He took pride in his family and relished being able to quietly rejoice in his children and grandchildren’s accomplishments.

Those left to cherish Don’s memory are his wife Alice Welter, of Bankston; four children, Donna (Steve) Schwers of Luxemburg, Karla (Mark) Digmann of Farley, Brian (Nicolette) Welter of Holy Cross, and Dawn (Luke) Knipper of Earlville; 11 grandchildren, Leah, Ryan, Ella and Anna Digmann, Emma, Owen, Cora, Claire and Grant Welter, and Blake and Trent Knipper; three siblings, Rita (Ken) Kiefer of Rochester, MN, Jean (Terry) Theisen of Topeka, KS, and Jim (Jackie) Welter of Dubuque; sisters and brothers-in-law, Pamela Graham of New Hampton, David (Carol) Hammerand, Arlan (Midge) Hammerand, both of Sherrill, Joan Waller of Key West, Walter Hammerand of Fennimore, WI, and Gloria Lenhart of Zwingle.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a son, Eric Welter in 2007; a grandson, Reece Knipper; a sister, Sr. Nora Welter PBVM; a brother, Clete Welter; father and mother-in-law, John and Velma (Hartbeck) Hammerand; brothers and sisters in-law, Martin (Norma Jean) Hammerand, Raymond “Blackie” Waller, Dorothy Hammerand, and Doug Lenhart.

A Video Tribute may be viewed, and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com