Donald Harold Lockhorst

IRETON, IOWA ~ Donald H. Lockhorst, 91, of Ireton, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026, at the Orange City Area Health System in Orange City.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 14, 2026, at First Reformed Church in Ireton, Iowa with Rev. Gerald Norman officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton. A luncheon at the Ireton Community Center will be after the committal service. Visitation with the family will be Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the First Reformed Church. The Porter Funeral Home in Ireton is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church website: www.iretonfirstreformed.com.

Donald “Don” Lockhorst was born August 28, 1934, to Peter and Christina Lockhorst in Sioux Center, Iowa. He married Deanna Cain on Friday, April 13, 1956, and they walked through life together for almost 70 years. He will be remembered for his deep love for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He enjoyed following them on all of their life adventures. He created many beautiful wood projects for them to cherish.

Don also enjoyed gardening and sharing his bounty of vegetables with neighbors, family and friends. He passed the love of gardening to many of his children and grandchildren.

Don had a strong, quiet faith in the Lord. He was a long-time member of First Reformed Church of Ireton where he served as Elder, Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent.

Don worked many jobs to support his family. He worked on the farm, drove a gravel and water truck, and drove a feed truck. Don worked for many years in various capacities at Siouxland Implement including setting up machinery, mechanic, parts man and salesman. Don retired from Diamond Vogel Paint at age 70.

After retirement, Don enjoyed volunteering for the Hope Haven International Wheelchair Ministries that built wheelchairs for handicapped individuals around the world. Don kept busy mowing at Gary’s farm and hauling grain for many years. At age 85, he told Gary he should stop driving the grain truck. However, he came out of retirement and hauled his last load of grain at 86 for his grandson, Eric.

He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Deanna; children and their spouses, Melodee & Dana Grefe of Woodward, Iowa, Gary & Rhoda Lockhorst living west of Hawarden, Iowa in South Dakota, Michael and Jan Lockhorst of Johnston, Iowa, and Nancy & Michael Johnson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren, Eric & Robin Lockhorst, Bradley Grefe, Rachel Stahlecker & Alex Pearson, Danica & Jim Tereau, Andrew Johnson, Josiah & Lauren Johnson, Lauren Hope Johnson, John Tayloe, and Jenna & Josh Groven; and 10 great grandchildren. Surviving in-laws are Herm Oldenkamp, Dan Cain, Sharon Cain, and Steve & Connie Cain; along with many nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and family members: Peter & Priscilla Lockhorst, Adrianna & Darold Bultman, Les Webert, Fred & Jeanette Boogerd, Melvin & Dorothy Hulshof, Garold & Christina Cleveringa, Paul & Geri Lockhorst, Grace Oldenkamp, Larry & Mona Cain, Bert Cain, and Jan Cain.