Don Gene Conley

Don Gene Conley, 85, of Sioux City passed away Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Isaac Gentry officiating. Graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Oak Hill Cemetery, Anthon, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Don was born on Nov. 3, 1929, in Kingsley, Iowa, the son of James Edward and Elva Doson (Mills) Conley. He was raised in Anthon and graduated from Anthon High School in 1947. Don joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and served until 1955.
He married Dolores Elaine Haring on Jan. 3, 1954, in Anthon. The couple made their home on Otis AFB in Massachusetts until Don got out of the service. They then moved to the Kingsley area where they farmed. Later Don farmed in the Anthon and Correctionville, Iowa, area for many years. Don and Dolores fostered many children for various agencies. After they sold the farm, Don worked for the Wright Cattle Co. from 1973 to 1985 when the couple moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where they became the first house parents at the Iowa City Ronald McDonald House. They served that community for 12 years. After Don and Dolores retired from the Ronald McDonald House, they moved to Fonda, Iowa. Dolores passed away on Dec. 30, 2002. Don moved to Sioux City in 2013.
He was a member of the Church of Christ and attended Mount Zion Baptist Church since coming to Sioux City. Don was an avid reader, reading many books a week. He also enjoyed collecting miniature farm equipment, but most important was his family.
He is survived by his son, Michael (Pat) Conley of Sioux City; two daughters, Becky (James) Fenceroy of Sioux City, and Melanie (Mark) Foster of Maricopa, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren, Jeremy Conley, Jerodiah Conley, Christopher Conley, Taylor Conley, Michelle Walker, Jeremy Fenceroy, Stacy Olson, Jeremy Baker, Joshua Fenceroy, Josiah Fenceroy, Zachariah Fenceroy, Nathaniel Foster and Natasha Foster; 17 great-grandchildren; his brother, Dr. John (Barbara) Conley of Merrill, Iowa; his brother-in-law, Richard Ostrihonsky of Sioux City; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and two children, Lori Conley and Lyndon Conley.