Donald Shinstine dies at 87

Donald Shinstine, age 87, of New Hampton, passed away Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at his home with his wife and family by his side.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, at Holy Family Parish with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass with con-celebrant Rev. Carl Schmidt. The Pall will be placed by Edna and their eight children. Lector for the Mass is Jason Paper, and presenting the gifts will be Bobbi Jo Paper, Trinity Brincks, Tory Brincks, and Emma Brincks.
Interment will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton with grandsons, Randy Shinstine, Scott Shinstine, Matthew Brincks, Adam Brincks, Michael Brincks, Kenny Kirkvold, and Nicholas Shinstine serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Don’s fifteen granddaughters.
Friends may greet the family 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, at Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 2:45 p.m. Rosary and a 5:45 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the gathering space on Monday.
Donald Nicholas Shinstine was born Nov. 20, 1929, in rural New Hampton, the son of Charles and Adeline (Brummond) Shinstine. He received his education at rural country schools and New Hampton High School. At 18 years old, Don lost his dad and took on the responsibilities of supporting his mother and the farm. Don met Edna Kriz on a double date and the couple were married June 20, 1951, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Hampton. To this union, eight children were born.
Initially, the couple moved northwest of New Hampton farming in the area for eight years. Don and Edna then moved to a farm near Frederika where the couple spent the next 31 years farming and raising their family. During this time, Don also worked for 20 years at the Denver Community Schools as a maintenance engineer. Don retired from the farm in 1990, and the couple moved to New Hampton where he resided the last 27 years.
Don had a love for music, he enjoyed watching country music and polka music on tv. He loved playing his accordion for his family and friends. This love for music took him and Edna dancing all over Northeast Iowa. Don enjoyed going for drives. He and Edna would get into the car and go for a drive just about every Saturday. The couple would randomly pick a direction and enjoyed the day traveling together.
When the children were young, Don enjoyed driving the family band to play at various events. Don enjoyed going on a family vacation every summer with the entire family. He and Edna would also go on trips together and took several trips to Branson, Missouri. Don took great pride in his yard and enjoyed mowing lawn. He had been mowing all summer up until the last few weeks. Don loved spending as much time with his children and grandchildren as possible.
Don is survived by his wife of 66 years, Edna of New Hampton; four sons, Norman (Sue) Shinstine of Dunkerton, Everett (Beverly) Shinstine of Ionia, David (Pam) Shinstine of Tripoli, Dean (Brenda) Shinstine of Waverly; four daughters, Donna (Gene) Brincks of Fredericksburg, Charlotte (John) Brincks of Lawler, Sheila (Roger) Kirkvold of Winona, Minn., Deborah (David) Lensing of Nashua; twenty four grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren with one arriving soon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Adeline Shinstine; in - laws, Charles and Emma Kriz; brother-in-law, Lloyd (Thelma) Kriz.