John Donald Tibben

John Donald Tibben, the son of Frank and Lillian Crees Tibben, was born November 9, 1912, at his Grandmother Tibbens home east of Exira, Iowa in Audubon Township, Audubon County and died March 21, 2010, at the Exira Care Center in Exira at the age of 97 years, 4 months, and 12 days.
Don was baptized at his Grandmothers home where he was born by the Pastor of St Johns Lutheran Church east of Exira. He later was confirmed as an adult at the Exira Lutheran Church. He attended rural schools in Audubon Township in Audubon County. Don then was employed doing various work which included road construction helping to build highway 71 for several years.
On September 5, 1940, he was united in marriage to Ruth Olsen in Maryville, Missouri. Three children were born to this union. Don and Ruth moved to California where Don learned to weld and worked in the shipyards building aircraft during World War II. They moved to the Exira area and purchased a farm north of Exira. Don operated the farm and also worked various odd jobs for several years. In 1949 they sold the farm near Exira and purchased a farm in southern Missouri. Don and the family operated the farm. Don was also employed as a welder in the Kansas City area and they later moved to live in Kansas City. In 1956, they purchased a motel and restaurant in Mountain Home, Arkansas. The family operated the business and Don continued as a welder helping to build the Table Rock Lake dam. Later they traded the business for a farm near Bigflat, Arkansas where they mostly raised livestock. Don traveled to Alaska working as a welder building bridges and high rise buildings. The family would live in Alaska in the summer then move to their farm during the winter months. In the early 1970s they sold the farm, lived in North Dakota for short time, then purchased a home near a lake in Minnesota. Don retired in 1977. They moved to Audubon in the early 1980s then returned to Exira in 2001. Don moved to the Exira Care Center in November of 2009.
Don was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. He was also a member of the Iron Workers Union.
Preceding him in death was his daughter: Margo Wilkinson; his parents; his brother: Merlin Tibben and his brother-in-law: Elmer Kapaska.
Survivors include his wife: Ruth Tibben of Exira, Iowa; his sons: John H. Tibben of Jewell, Iowa, and Michael Paul and his wife Linda Tibben of Bigflat, Arkansas; his grandchildren: Michael Tibben of Little Rock, Arkansas, Kimberly Wood of Exira, Steve and wife Ruth Passmore of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, Thomas and wife Laura Wood of New Prague, Minnesota; his great grandchildren: Jessica Wood of Exira, Jeff Passmore, David Passmore, and Jonathan Passmore all of Strasburg, Kyla Schapeaahm, Brandon Schapeaahm, Alyssa Schapeaahm, Riley Wood, and Jerrett Wood all of New Prague; his sister: Elaine Kapaska of Coon Rapids, Iowa; his sisters-in-law: Melba Knox of Des Moines, Iowa and Ruby Olsen of Exira; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Tuesday evening, March 23, 2010, at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa.