Dave Conkling, 65, of Grinnell, died on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at the Grinnell Christian Church. The service will be livestreamed on the Smith Funeral Home Facebook page beginning at 9:45 am. A luncheon will follow the service in the Family Life Center (gymnasium) of the church. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm on Monday, January 3rd at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell and his family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Memorials may be designated to benefit the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Dave's family online at www.smithfh.com. David Dwight Conkling, the son of Dwight and Gertrude (Nourse) Conkling, was born on September 15, 1956 in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1974. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1979. Dave met his future wife Denise Diane (Drobney)in Cedar Falls while Dave was working on his bachelor's degree in liberal studies. As a student he worked at the university greenhouse and on the preserve system. After graduating he worked as a landscaper. Dave and Denise were married on July 12, 1980 in Cedar Falls. They were blessed with five children, Colette, Tyler, Lindsey, Dylan, and Nicolas. They resided in Cedar Falls and then moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Dave worked as a real estate developer, and builder of passive solar homes in partnership with his brother, Mark Conkling. Dave and his family resided in New Mexico for 10 years before returning to Iowa In 1995. They settled in Grinnell and established Mariposa Farms, a well-known business that grows and provides culinary herbs to grocery stores, restaurants, and food suppliers throughout the Midwest. Dave's family was his greatest blessing. He loved going on family vacations. Hawaii being a favorite destination. There he enjoyed snorkeling, boogie boarding and exploring. His adventures didn't always take him so far from home however, one of his favorite summer vacations was spending time at Clear Lake, which had been a family destination since his childhood. His artistic spirit was always driving him to try new things. He spent countless hours taking in the beauty of nature and recording it through the lens of his camera. He had a love of music both listening to it and playing it on his collection of guitars. Throughout his life Dave enjoyed spending time with his German Shepherds, horseback riding, boating, fishing, gardening, and riding his motorcycles. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, as a visionary in business and for his strength, and sensitivity. Dave is survived by his wife, Denise Conkling of Grinnell; his children, Colette (Curt) Cox of Grinnell, Tyler (Michelle) Conkling of Des Moines, IA, Lindsey (Samuel) Peiffer of Grinnell, Dylan Conkling of Grinnell, and Nicolas Conkling of Coralville, IA; 6 grandchildren, Avery Verona, Madeline Conkling, Lorali Conkling, Kai Conkling, Theodore Peiffer, and Roman Peiffer; 3 step-grandchildren, Zach Cox, Curtis Cox and Connor Phipps; and his siblings, Mark (Pat) Conkling of Albuquerque, NM, Joan (Jim) Hunter of Oklahoma City, OK, Trudi (Jenny) Conkling of Woodstock, NY. He was preceded in death by his parents.