Donald GildersleeveMonroeDonald LeRoy Gildersleeve, age 87 of Monroe, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Monroe Presbyterian Church with burial following at Silent City Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Friday, January 6, 2017, from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the church. The family will greet friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Monroe Presbyterian Church or the Monroe Emergency Unit. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.The son of Ora J. and Grace (Britt) Gildersleeve, Don was born on February 17, 1929, in Newton, Iowa. Don graduated from Monroe High School in 1947. On December 23, 1954, he was united in marriage to Donna Schippers at the Presbyterian Church in Monroe, where he was a member. He proudly served in the United States Air Force. He also served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, where he served three tours. Don worked in construction during his working career. He served as Vice President of the Chapter 99 Tall Corn Korean Group and also in the Chapter 323 Taylor Morris Korean Group out of Des Moines. Don enjoyed fishing, woodworking, gardening and being outside in nature looking at birds. Don's greatest enjoyment, however, came from his family and his church.Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Donna of 62 years; children, Karla (Larry) Shank of Prairie City and Dean (Becky) Gildersleeve of Bondurant; a granddaughter, Dawn (Taylor) Bodin of Estes Park, Colorado and his sister, Lois Brouwer of Arkansas. Preceding Don in death were his parents; a son, Doyle Lee; sister, Marjorie McBride and a brother Harold Gildersleeve.