Donald D. Hovenga, 88, of Grinnell, died on October 30, 2018, in the Emergency Room at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 2nd, at the First Baptist Church in Grinnell with Rev. Dr. Dondrea Walker, Sr. officiating. Organist will be J'Remi Barnes and vocalist will be Milton Severe. Pallbearers will be Diane, Brian, Duane, Ryan, Paul and Matthew Hovenga. Honorary bearers will be Emily, Mary and Laura Hovenga. Burial with military honors will be held at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation with the family present will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Grinnell First Baptist Church. Donald was born on August 14, 1930, in Parkersburg, Iowa, the son of Cornelius and Grace Meinders Hovenga. He was raised in Parkersburg where he attended country school in both Butler and Grundy Counties and later Parkersburg High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving with the 109th Infantry, during the Korean War. On September 28, 1955, he was united in marriage with LaVonne Mooi, at St. John's Evangelical Reformed Church in Ackley. The couple farmed in the Ackley area for 30 years where they operated a dairy farm; Don also was employed with Curtis Cattle Breeding Service. During this time he was employed with several manufacturing companies including Clay Equipment Corporation in Cedar Falls, Waterloo Industries, and the Maytag Corporation in Hampton and later to the Newton location in 1988. He retired in 1997. He was an active member of the Grinnell First Baptist Church, serving on the Diaconate Board and as Trustee. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, and a proud member of the Aplington Am Vet and Grinnell American Legion. In 2014, he flew on the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Donald was committed to his family, faith, country, and military. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Donald was a perfectionist, a man of his word and held a great sense of humor. He was a well-dressed man and enjoyed looking sharp. He was an avid reader and enjoyed listening to country music. Traveling to Branson, Missouri several times a year was always a highlight! He is survived by his wife, LaVonne of Grinnell; three children, Diane Hovenga of Monroe, Duane (Teresa) Hovenga of Collinsville, Oklahoma, and Brian (Lois) Hovenga of Ankeny; his daughter-in-law, Susan Hovenga of Grinnell; one sister, Elizabeth (Dean) Deuell of Allison; one sister-in-law, Colleen Mooi of Ankeny; six grandchildren, Paul (Misty), Ryan (Danielle), Matthew, Emily, Mary and Laura Hovenga; and five great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Bryson, and Brooklyn Hovenga and Tara and Alex Nunn. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, D. Henry Hovenga; one granddaughter, Krystle Strovers (2001); and one sister, Bernice Freemon (2017).