In Memory of Rev. Donald H. Winterrowd

Reverend Donald H. Winterrowd, age 84, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 13, 2022, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Richard A. Salcido, Rev. Neil Wehmas, and Rev. Dr. Steven Turner will officiate.  Burial will take place at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, June 12, 2022, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa.

 The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Rev. Donald H. Winterrowd was born on November 24, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the son of Hubert, Sr. and Edmay (Huff) Winterrowd. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Paul Lutheran Church of Shreveport and was the only son of the congregation to serve in the pastoral office. Donald graduated from C.E. Byrd High School with the class of 1955. 

In Austin, Texas, at the age of 17, he enrolled in Concordia College in the pursuit of his Ordination into the LCMS Ministry. While in Austin, he chaired the student athletic council and played on the college basketball team for two years. Following his graduation in 1957, he attended Concordia Sr. College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating with a B.A. degree with a major in Sociology/Theology. At Fort Wayne, Donald played on the school’s basketball and baseball teams. In the fall of 1959, Donald was a ministerial candidate at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. There he also played on the Sem’s basketball and baseball teams and was employed as the student manager of the Seminary Field House. In 1963, he graduated with his Masters of Theology. 

During his vicarage years, Donald served at the Zion Lutheran Church of Denison, Iowa, his supervisor being Rev. C.W. Schmidt. At the end of his vicarage year, on September 1, 1962, Donald married Judith Marie Beermann. This union was blessed with four children: Kimberly, Lisa, David and Rebecca.

At his graduation from Seminary, Donald was called to the dual parishes of Immanuel and Grace, in Jamison and Burton, Nebraska. He served there until 1966 when he answered the “Call” of Hope Lutheran Church of South Sioux City, Nebraska, where he remained until 1974. Donald was very active in the community and served on the organizing board of the Siouxland Lutheran Men, which united all Lutheran Churches in a variety of activities, including church issues and sports.

Immanuel Lutheran Church/School at Twin Falls, Idaho, extended a “Call” which he answered and served as the Sr. Pastor until 1977.  St. John’s Lutheran Church of Battle Creek, Iowa, was his next place of service, where he served for 19 years. Initiating an Iowa District West chapter of the Orphan Grain Train was a highlight following a month serving to establish a Lutheran Hour radio broadcast in the former Soviet Union Nation at Riga, Latvia. Many good days were spent in Battle Creek with church and community events, along with the graduation from high school of his four children. Our Savior Lutheran Church, Swea City, Iowa, was his final place of ministry, retiring in 2004; with many memorable events serving the small but cohesive families of Our Savior.   

In retirement, Donald and Judy moved to Ida Grove, Iowa, where he lived until his passing. Even in retirement, he served his home church of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove on four separate occasions during pastoral vacancies from 2004-2016. Following the devastating Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana, he served as the Interim Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church/School from 2009-2010.  He assisted the congregation in relocating families who had left New Orleans, and provided the congregation a full ministerial presence until the church called a permanent pastor.

A passion for Donald was officiating and participating in all sports. From 1964-2015, he was a registered official in all high school athletics in the states of Nebraska, Idaho, and Iowa. In the summers of his years of schooling he was the aquatic director and swim coach at the Shreveport YMCA. Though at a disadvantage to the outdoor country clubs, his swim teams captured many city championships. He also coached two national age-group champion swimmers with one of the two claiming a scholarship at SMU and tried out for the USA Olympic Swim Team.

After retiring as an active official, he served as a booth/table assistant at OABCIG sporting events. He also served as a substitute teacher in various school districts and finally served as a tutor at the BCIG Elementary School of Ida Grove, Iowa. In his retirement years, Donald enjoyed observing his grandchildren as they participated in various school activities, and also providing Sunday pulpit supply for local congregations. 

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Judy Winterrowd of Ida Grove, Iowa; children: Kimberly (Keith) Muckenhirn of Delano, MN, Lisa (Jason) Bockelmann of Sergeant Bluff, IA, David (Patricia) Winterrowd of Battle Creek, IA and Rebecca (Tim) Thomas of Correctionville, IA; 12 grandchildren: Alicia (Peter) Wroth, Joshua (Katie) Muckenhirn, Zachary (Courtney) Muckenhirn, Cole (Shelby) Bockelmann, Clayton Bockelmann, Camryn Bockelmann, Anna Winterrowd, Gabriel Winterrowd, Abigail Winterrowd, Makenna (Kyler Lewis) Thomas, Ethan Thomas, Madison Thomas; with a great granddaughter due in August. Other survivors include his sisters-in-law Pat Winterrowd of Pasadena, TX, Marjorie Jensen of Kimballton, IA, Nancy (Roy) Roehl of Fairbanks, AK, Connie (Larry) Ahrendsen of Manning, IA, Kathy (Gary) Den Hartog of Des Moines, IA; extended family and friends.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents Hubert, Sr. and Edmay Winterrowd; brother Hubert Winterrowd, Jr.; in-laws Edward and Carmen Beermann; and brother-in-law Darlo Jensen.