Wilbur Telfer, 71, of rural Newton, died Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, at Pella Regional Medical Center. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at the funeral home. Memorials in Wilbur’s name may be left at the funeral home.
Wilbur, the son of Walter and Myrna (Bradshaw) Telfer, was born Dec. 23, 1944, in rural Prairie City. He lived most of his life in Prairie City. Wilbur served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. He was an owner/operator of his own semi-truck and after retiring from driving full time worked as a shuttle driver for Ryder.
Wilbur was united in marriage with Dorraine “Dodie” Duncan April 28, 1999 in Branson, Mo. They had lived in Newton for the past eight years and prior to that in Mingo. Wilbur enjoyed being outside, working in his yard and on his John Deere tractor. He liked going to races at the dirt tracks in Marshalltown and Knoxville. Wilbur attended the Jasper County Fair annually. He was a loving and caring husband, dad, grandpa and brother.
Those left to honor Wilbur’s memory are his wife, Dorraine “Dodie” Telfer of rural Newton; children, Debbie (Brian) Townsend of Prairie City and Darrin (Ava) Telfer of Prairie City; his stepson, Kevin (Megan) Nagel of Grinnell; grandchildren, Kelsey, Tyler and Kaylee Townsend; Grace, Leevi, Isaac and Bess Telfer; and Victor, Beau and Rhett Nagel; and his siblings, Lois Stoner of Oregon, Trula Telfer of Urbandale and Ron Telfer of Newton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Bailey Telfer; eight sisters, Edith Moore, Elsie Fatka, Irma Telfer, Vera Telfer, Marilyn Elrod, Myrna Schmitt, Grace Shuey and Wilma Briles; and two brothers, Merwyn Telfer and Robert Telfer.