Donald Talcott Oelrich, the son of Will and Blanche (Talcott) Oelrich, was born on September 15, 1921, on the family farm in Putnam Township, near Lamont, Iowa.  He attended grade school and graduated from Lamont High School in 1939.                                                                                                         

            Don farmed with his father and they raised and milked purebred Guernsey cattle over 57 years.  He was also a bee keeper.  Don was involved with 4-H and was a member of the American Guernsey Cattle Club, Fayette County Farm Bureau, and the Lamont Methodist Church.

            Don and Joyce Evelyn Linn were married on August 7, 1949 in Rochester, Iowa. To this union four children, Kenneth, Jerry, Judy and Jim, were born.  They continued to farm near Lamont until 1981, when they moved to an acreage 2 miles from the farm. Joyce later become ill with cancer and passed away on July 15, 1982. 

            Don married Hilda Wenthe Pleggenkuhle of Hawkeye, on May 2, 1987, and resided in Hawkeye.  Don was involved in gardening, fishing, woodworking and enjoyed traveling with Hilda. He went to live at the Good Samaritan Home in West Union in the fall of  2005, and later Hilda joined him there in January 2008.  He was active with the Gideons and even while at the home.  Don loved the Lord and wanted others to know Him also as their Lord and Savior.

            Don passed away at the Good Samaritan Home in West Union, Iowa, on March 28, 2012, at the age of 90.  Don was preceded in death by his wife Joyce; his parents, Will and Blanche Oelrich; sister, Vera Zech and an infant sister.

            Don is survived by his wife Hilda, West Union; his four children, Kenneth(Loyce) Fayette; Jerry, Lamont; Judy(Gary) Hansen, Estherville;  and James(Linda) Strawberry Point; Hilda’s children; Sally(Glen) Boie, Hawkeye; Roger(Janice) Pleggenkuhle, Sumner; Linda(Dean) Fritz, Hawkeye; and Doyle(Cindy) Pleggenkuhle, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

            Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the Fayette Community Church with Rev. Carl Tenney officiating. Interment will be at Cass Township Cemetery in Strawberry Point. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 30, 2012, at the church in Fayette and for one hour preceding services at the church on Saturday. In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made in his name to the Gideons. Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette is in charge of arrangements.