Darold Whiteman

Darold Whiteman, age 89 of New Hampton, Iowa, passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at Holy Family Parish in New Hampton with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2017 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Rosary and a 6:30 p.m. Scriptural Service. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Interment with military honors will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in New Hampton following the Mass with Curtis Platte, Jesse Platte, Matt Zuke, Brian Rausch, Nicholas Rausch and Kristopher Rausch serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Sarah Zuke, Amanda Wolter, Ashley Reicks, Andrea Rausch, Haillie Reicks and Emily Rausch. Darold Edward Whiteman was born December 4, 1927 in New Hampton, IA the youngest child of Fay and Margaret (Kramer) Whitemen. He received his education in rural country school at ‘Five Corners’ north of New Hampton and attended high school in New Hampton. Following his sophomore year he stayed at home to help his father on the farm due to his father loosing his sight. He began driving his parents everywhere near the age of 14. At the advice of his older brothers, he chose the United States Navy as the branch where he would serve his country. On August 24, 1950, he was inducted into the United States Navy. He served as a diesel mechanic in the US Fleet and had once hauled prisoners of war from the front line to Korea. He was honorably discharged on June 18, 1954. While on leave he met Charlotte Frost of Pittsville, WI, who he later married. To this union three children were born. Cindy, Larry and Sue. The couple later divorced. Darold initially worked at the former Rath Packing Company in Waterloo and then at the former White Farm Equipment Company in Charles City. Darold devoted 41 years to White Farm working there until its closing. Darold raised his children and was sure there was a family vacation every summer. They traveled to Wisconsin to see relatives several times, to Yellowstone National Park and to the Black Hills. The family also met other relatives at Alcock Park in Frederika for fishing and summer picnics. After his children were raised he married Nadine Pitts on June 26, 1981. The couple spent several retirement years traveling in their RV and later made the choice to winter in Texas for over 10 years. Nadine suffered from an early onset of Alzheimers and Darold cared for her in their home for nearly 20 years when she became a resident at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2003. Darold remained at home with the help of his granddaughter Andrea who cared for him until last fall when his health forced him to enter the Patty Elwood Center. He was a life-time member of Holy Family Parish and a UAW member. He will be remembered by his family for the care he gave and how he could fix everything. Darold is survived by his wife, Nadine of New Hampton, IA; two daughters Cynthia (Herb) Platte of New Hampton, IA, Susan (David) Rausch of Fort Atkinson, IA; eleven grandchildren, Jesse (Ashley) Platte of Radcliffe, IA, Sarah (Matt) Zuke of Denver, IA, Curtis (Kelly Cochrane) Platte of Crestwood, IL, Amanda (Jason) Wolter of Cresco, IA, Ashley (Eric) Reicks of Cresco, IA, Brian (Alex) Rausch of Johnston, IA, Andrea Rausch of New Hampton, IA, Nicholas Rausch of Cedar Falls, IA, Kristopher (Sara) Rausch of Marion, IA, Haillie (Trent) Reicks of Waucoma, IA, Emily Rausch of Fort Atkinson, IA; nineteen great-grandchildren; four step-children, Bob (Patricia) Junko of Atlanta, GA, Kathy (Steve) Merritt of Williamsburg, IA, Barb (Tom) Matuska of Cedar Rapids, IA, Steven (Carol) Junko of Kansas City, KS; seven step-grandchildren Joseph (Samantha Compton) Junko, Autumn (Levi) Winegar, Eric (Amy) Matuska, Travis (Tiffany) Matuska, Andrew (Trace) Merritt, Kevin (Jama) Pirkl, Todd (Maria) Smith; nine step-great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law Kathy Whiteman of Evansdale, IA; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son Larry in 1994; two brothers Russell (Dolly) Whiteman, Ralph Whiteman; three sisters, Romana (Floyd) Macha, Lenore and Marian Whiteman in infancy.