Obituary: Dr. Walter Donald Felker

March 20, 2024 — 

AASV was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Walter Felker on February 25, 2024.

Walter Donald Felker was born July 11, 1927, to Walter Alvin and Bertha Bernice (Morrow) Felker, at their farm home in Lewis County, Missouri.

He attended Liberty Township School and then Williamstown High school for one year. Sophomore year of high school was at Central Catholic High School in East St. Louis. His family moved to Ottumwa, Iowa and Don graduated from Catholic Central Boys High School in 1945. Immediately after graduating he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to the Naval Training Center Great Lakes in Illinois on July 4, 1945. He was Seaman 1st Class in the USNR and served at the small craft facility in San Francisco Bay. He was honorably discharged on August 19, 1946. Upon returning home he discovered his Mother had enrolled him in St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, so off he went to further his education during the fall semester of 1946. In 1949 he was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa after completing six semesters at St. Ambrose and one summer session at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Don and Donna (Jean Cavanaugh) were married on December 27, 1950 in Ottumwa. Campus housing for married students in Pammel Court was their home in Ames until Don graduated in 1953.

Doc set up a practice in Carroll, Iowa but in a few months accepted an offer to join a veterinary practice in Manning, Iowa. Doc Felker was a highly respected veterinarian in the Manning area until 1987 when he accepted an appointment as State Veterinarian of Iowa. At this point Don and Donna moved to Ankeny where he resided until now. He served as State Veterinarian until 1999.

His proudest accomplishment as State Veterinarian was devising and implementing the program that eradicated the swine disease, pseudorabies, from the State of Iowa.

Don was also an active member of his church and community. At Sacred Heart Parish in Manning he was a lector and church trustee, in Ankeny he was also a lector and achieved the level of Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus. The Holstein Museum in Manning was one of his special interests. Also in Manning he was a member of the Manning Development Association and was especially proud of his role in establishing the Municipal Housing Agency of Manning. He and Donna belonged to the Iowa State University Gentle Doctor Society.

Doc had developed close friends over the years with those who shared his professional and hobby life. He told many endearing stories about being a veterinarian and living in Manning, fishing in Canada, pheasant hunting, playing bridge, volunteering at church, golfing, the Knights of Columbus and traveling as State Veterinarian. Don was respected for his problem solving mechanical abilities, seemingly able to fix anything with paper clips and rubber bands. He told his daughters he could fix anything but a broken heart.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Donna of 59 years, his parents, his sister Norma Frances Felker Mottet, a brother Paul Edward who died in infancy and his brother-in-law George and Rose Cavanaugh.

Don is survived by his four daughters and their families:

Kathryn Therese Warneke of Elk River, MN and her family Julie Kallemeyn (John) and their children Odin, Elliotte and Rosaline, Hallie Warneke (Kazem Sadoughi) and their daughter Leila, and Donald and Rachel Polecke. Anne Patrice Felker (Norm Hockett) of Ames, Iowa and her family Jennifer and Mark DiOrio, their daughter Gwendolynn and Thomas Hockett. Mary Cecile Sibbing (Larry) of Hamilton, Illinois and her family Elizabeth Gudgel (Andrew) and their children Joseph, Anna and Lucy, Emily Watson (Bill) and their children Theo and Mara. Kendall and Cherish Sibbing and their son Eli, plus a baby due in August.

Norine Lucille Moulsoff (James) of St. Paul, Minnesota. His sister's two daughters: Delores Wellman (John), their daughter Anne Schwem(Michael) and their children William and Amelia and their son John, and Dianne O'Connell (Dan). George Cavanaugh's children: Chris, Craig and Karen, Curt, Cary, Cecelia Gustafson (Thomas), and Charles and Tammy.

The family is deeply grateful for all the caregivers from Care by April, Wesley on Grand and especially Barbara Walters.

For more information, please visit the Ankeny Funeral Home & Crematory.