Photo courtesy of Reiff Funeral Home - Epworth
Feb 22, 1941 - Jan 19, 2026
Hermie was a great friend and colleague. We taught together & coached along side of each other in the early years of the WDHS in the early 60s. Also played city league Bball for the Edwards w. Dick Welu as our Captain. They tried to turn me into an ice fisherman and hunter but failed. I cherish the great times we had together. WD will never have a finer teacher, coach or role model.
Tom Wickham
February 02, 2026 | Dubuque, IA | Friend
My condolences to the Hermsen family. I have great memories of Mr. Hermsen as a W.D. teacher and coach in spite of the many years that have passed (has it been over 35 years already??), and am glad to have been shaped under his guidance.
Rick Lopez
January 24, 2026 | Ames, IA | Student
It was an honor to know Don as a client and friend. Don could always make my day better when he came for his appointments. He will be missed. My heartfelt sympathy goes to Shawn and the entire Hermsen family.
Dave Babler
January 23, 2026 | The Villages, FL | Acquaintance
The Hermsen family has my thoughts and prayers. We had so many memories through the years. He was such a wonderful person. May he rest in peace.
Shirley Rhodes
January 23, 2026 | PEOSTA, IA | Friend
Remembered By
Shirley Rhodes
January 23, 2026 | Peosta, IA | Friend
Sooo many memories of Don and Patty and watching all of the children being born and growing up until I moved away from eastern iowa!!! But we had sooo many fun Christmas celebrations together drinking “ Tom and Jerry’s” with him and The Gebhards( Mert annd Della!!) Always had a joke to tell and the most contagious laugh and smile!!’ Of course I. Was the you gets of everyone and usually got a hard time from Don!!! He was sooo blessed to have such a beautiful family around him to share such fun...
Patti Muhm
January 22, 2026 | LeMars, IA | Friend
So very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. My sympathy to his family. We will miss seeing him in Dr. Bland’s office.
Sue G
January 22, 2026 | Acquaintance
My condolences to the family. Iam Marvin Deutmeyer sister.
Mary Frommung
January 22, 2026 | Prairie D U Sac, WI | Family
Herm... a tremendous guy. Enjoyed frienship and teaching drivers education with him. He always had a good story on something... including driving. He would say he did the Westside of Dubuque and you do the Eastside of Dubuque! You will be definitely missed my friend. Prayers and reflections to the family. Papa Pete and Robin Pearson
"Papa" Pete and Robin Pearson
January 22, 2026 | East Dubuque, IL | Coworker
Donald L. Hermsen, 84, of Epworth, Iowa, passed away Monday, January 19, 2026, due to complications from the flu at Accura Health Care in Cascade, Iowa, surrounded by his family.
Visitation for Don will be held from 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will also continue after 9 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Funeral Home.
Services for Don will be held at his parish of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, with Rev. Steven Garner presiding. Burial will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Epworth.
He was born February 22, 1941 in Petersburg, Iowa, son of Leonard and Hilda (Deutmeyer) Hermsen. Don always talked about being the valedictorian of his kindergarten class. Only to find out he was the only one in his kindergarten class. His parents sent him at the age of four to keep the Petersburg school open. He went on to attend High school at St. Boniface where he played basketball and excelled in speech. While there he met the love of his life, Patricia Gebhard. They were married on February 2, 1963.
After high school, Don enrolled in Loras College and then later graduated from the Iowa State Teachers College (UNI). He began his teaching career at Western Dubuque High School. He taught there for 44 years. In those years he taught pretty much the entire population of rural Dubuque County how to drive! He also coached every sport in those 44 years. The two sports he spent the majority of his career coaching were cross country and track. It has been said you could always hear “Herm” anywhere on the course or the track. He took great pride in every athlete he had the honor to coach.
He also spent many years traveling the area officiating basketball and umpiring baseball and softball. He also had the voice to make him a great announcer at local sporting events and the races at Dubuque and Farley.
Sports have always been a part of Don’s life from playing ball for Petersburg or softball for Flynn Ready Mix and The Office Tap. He became an avid golfer later in life winning the couples league one year at Timberline, where he also shot a hole-in-one. Don cherished the moments watching his own kids and grandkids participate in a variety of sporting events over the years. He is an honored member of the Western Dubuque Hall of Fame.
After losing his wife in 1997, he married the second love of his life, Shawn Lockridge on April 24, 1999. The two of them spent many years travelling around the country. Nothing brought them greater joy than watching their grandkids flourish.
He is survived by his wife, Shawn Lockridge-Hermsen of Epworth, IA; five children, Mick (Carmen) Hermsen of Amherst, WI, Karie (Neil) Beck of Bailey, CO, Ann (Mark) Bradshaw of Wentzville, MO, Marty (Lisa) Hermsen of Albia, IA and Jenny(Adam) Huehnergarth of Dyersville, IA; 16 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and one sister, Kay Holtz of Ocean Springs, MS; his mother-in-law, Analee Lockridge of Fort Meyers,FL; sisters-in-law, Robin Bekker of Fort Meyers, FL, Stacey (Jayme) Schmidt of Villa Ridge, MO, Gina (Rodney) Hamilton of Minford, OH; a brother-in-law, Steve (MaryKay) Lockridge of Chillcothe,IL; numerous nieces and nephews and many great nephews and nieces.
He is also preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mert and Ardella Gebhard, his father-in-law, Jack Lockridge; his sister and her husband Lillian and Bob Steger; and two brothers-in-laws, Jerry Holtz and Jim Bekker; nephews and niece, Bryan Hamilton, Mark Steger, Terry Holtz and Lori Meyer.
An online video may be viewed and online condolences sent to the family at wwww.reifffuneralhomeinc.com
The family of Don would like to thank Dr. Sullivan, Dr. Ram, Dr. Bland and Karena Sauser. The amazing team at Accura HealthCare and Hospice of Dubuque who gave Don such compassionate care. As well as the first responders of Epworth who were always there in his times of need. In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to Hospice of Dubuque.
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