Donald E. Hunstad, 88, of Sioux City, Iowa, formerly of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2015 at Floyd Place in Sgt. Bluff, Iowa. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars, Iowa. Rev Dr. Jean Ziettlow and Rev. Peter Rosenkvist will officiate. Burial will follow the 9:30 a.m. church service on Sunday, August 2, 2015 at the Scandinavia Lutheran Church Cemetery in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Donald Erwin Hunstad was born on February 23, 1927 in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Birger and Nettie (Anderson) Hunstad. He was baptized and confirmed at the Scandinavia Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. Don graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1945. He was inducted into the United States Navy on February 21, 1945. He served overseas with the Sea Bees as a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command in the South Pacific theater. He earned his Honorable Discharge on August 15, 1946.

On September 19, 1948 Donald and Odell Nerland were united in marriage at the Falnes Lutheran Church in Langford, South Dakota. They were blessed with four children, Gary, Rachel, Daniel and Colleen.

Together Odell and Don operated Hunstad Oil Company from their homes in Sisseton, South Dakota, Marshall, Minnesota and Le Mars, Iowa. They operated the wholesale and retail oil supply business until their retirement in 1988 following 35 years of service. Don and Odell were members of the Oil Jobbers Association of South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.

During their retirement years, Don and Odell traveled throughout Europe, including Monte Carlo, Switzerland and Egypt and in the United States with their RV. After 1995, many winters were spent in Mesa, Arizona.

Don is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars where he served on several committees and ushered. Don also served on the Plymouth County Fair Board and started the entertainment portion of the Pioneer Village. He was the Official Mayor of the Pioneer Village from 1982 until 1992 and was elected to the Fair Board Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also a member of the Le Mars Lions Club, Elks Club, and the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in collecting and helping to relocate the Plymouth County Museum to its present location on First Avenue. His hobbies included collecting and restoring antiques, clocks, furniture and musical instruments.

Don was a life member of Wasmer Post #241 of the American Legion in Le Mars. He is associated with the first group of veterans to start the WWII Last Man's Club in 1997. He was privileged to take part in the Siouxland Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on June 2, 2009.

He is survived by his daughters, Rachel (Robert) Bonderson of Hawarden, IA and Colleen (Scott) Carlson of Sgt. Bluff, IA; grandchildren, Nellica (Scott) Seibert,Micah(Erica) Bonderson, Sonja( CJ) Lynott, Jeff Carlson, Jason (Kat) Carlson; great-grandchildren, Clara and Lydia Seibert, Keaten, Kate, Kora,and Kinley Bonderson; Cade Carlson, and Graham and Emmett Lynott; a sister, Vivian(Don) Schley, sister-in-law, Margaret Hunstad; brother-in-law, Harley Nerland.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Odell on December 13, 2013; an infant son, Daniel, son, Rev. Gary Hunstad; a sister, Kathleen (Bryce) Kindred; brothers, Bernard(Sally) Hunstad and Rev. Wallace Hunstad; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ruth Nerland, Carmen(Georgia) Nerland, Jarvis(Violet) Nerland, Bill(Lois) Nerland.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland or the Scandinavia Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund.