Donald Stoker, 88, of Grinnell, died on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in the Lakeview section of Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. A luncheon will follow from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Grinnell Christian Church.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the donor's choice and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.smithfh.com.

Donald Edward Stoker was born on February 24, 1938, in Grant Township near Grinnell, Iowa, the tenth of eleven children born to George and Edith (Cheney) Stoker. He was baptized at Victor Lutheran Church and the family attended St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell.

Don attended Grant Township Country School, located a half mile south of his family home, and later graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1956. Following graduation, he served in the United States Army Reserves from 1956 to 1964 as a light vehicle driver and was recognized as a Sharpshooter with the M-1 rifle.

Don was a lifelong farmer. He farmed in partnership with his brother, Marvin Stoker, where they raised sheep and Simmental cattle. Following the sale of the family farm, Don continued farming for Dimit Farms north of Grinnell until his retirement.

He was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Grinnell and, in recent years, attended Prairie Lakes Church in Grinnell.

Don is survived by his siblings: Russell (Dorothy) Stoker of Grinnell, Doris Anderson of Des Moines, Millie Graham of Lake Forest, California, and Robert (Carol) Stoker of Cresco, Iowa; his sister-in-law, Janna Stoker of Grinnell; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Clarine (Ed) Killam, RoseMarie (Ray) Holman, Melvin (Shirley) Stoker, Helen (Robert) Bakkie, Wilma (Charles) Ziegenmeyer, and Marvin Stoker; and brothers-in-law, Gordon Anderson and William Graham.