Lon R. Whipple

ROCK FALLS: Lon R. Whipple, 80, of Rock Falls, died Wednesday (September 26, 2007) at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 29, 2007, at 10:30 AM, at the Old Stone United Methodist Church in Rock Falls, with Pastor Jim Turner officiating. Inurnment will be in the Rock Falls Cemetery. A gathering of friends and family will be Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Memorials may be directed to the Old Stone United Methodist Church or Hospice of North Iowa. Lon was born March 24, 1927 in Winner, South Dakota, the only child of Ray and Margaret (Gratz) Whipple. He attended school in Rockwell before enlisting in the Navy on March 13, 1945. He served in WWII on the battleship USS Alcor as a Machinist?s Mate 3rd Class, he was honorably discharged on August 8, 1946. After returning from the service he was married to Marie Freeden in 1951 at St. James Lutheran Church in Mason City. Together they farmed in the Rock Falls area until 1970 when they moved into Rock Falls. While farming he drove milk truck for Fred and Lorraine Weller for 3 years. After moving to Rock Falls he started working for Dahlen Transport where he drove truck for 18 years until his retirement. After retirement he worked for Rock Falls Wilkinson Park as a groundskeeper. Lon enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid reader. Family was important to him, especially his grandchildren. He was a member of the NRA, Local Teamster Union in Mason City, and the Old Stone United Methodist Church in Rock Falls. Lon is survived by his wife, Marie of Rock Falls; children, Carlene Gonnerman of Mason City; Robert Whipple and wife Roxanne of Rock Falls; and Lee Whipple and wife Kelly of Waseca, MN; grandchildren, Kristin Chesnik and husband Max, Teresa Neal and husband Eric, Eric, Erin and fiancé Jason Froning, Eon, David, Katherine, and Patrick; six great grandsons, one great granddaughter; several cousins; sister-in-law, Marlene Freeden of Mason City; and nephew, Mike Freeden of Clear Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, and brother-in-law, Robert Freeden

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on September 28, 2007 (map/driving directions) 4:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on September 26, 2007 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:30 AM at on September 29, 2007 (map/driving directions)