Arlee K. Waring

West Des Moines, Iowa — Arlee Keith Waring, 82, or West Des Moines, Iowa, died surrounded by his family on Saturday, April 1, 2023 in Des Moines after a quick, hard-fought battle with ALS.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at the church in West Des Moines, Iowa. They will also be livestreamed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Burial will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa with full military honors. Following this a luncheon will be served at the church in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Arlee was born on March 9, 1941, to Gerald and Evelyn Waring in Walnut. He graduated from Orchard High School in 1958. 

After one year of college, he enlisted and served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1962. After an honorable discharge, Arlee attended the University of Northern Colorado, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business in 1967.  

Arlee's first job out of college was with State Farm Insurance. He became an agent after many different positions within State Farm, and retired in 2003 after 40 years at State Farm.

He met the love of his life LaDonna Ziegler when they were both employed at State Farm in Greeley, CO. They were united in marriage on Oct. 17, 1964. They lived for several years in Colorado before moving to Humboldt, Iowa, where they built a happy life and raised their three daughters. 

Arlee was very involved and respected in the community. 

Arlee and LaDonna moved to West Des Moines in 2009 to be closer to their seven grandchildren. In 2006, they found their winter home at Quail Run in Arizona City, AZ. They spent the last 18 seasons with their ‘framily' there, the loving friends who became their extended family.

Arlee was an avid golfer and spent many, many days out of the year on the course. He played in several golf leagues throughout the years and you knew where he was most Tuesdays and Thursdays. He was proud of his hole-in-one and that he was still able to shoot his age this winter in Arizona. 

When he wasn't playing golf, he was often found in Papa's Chair watching golf on TV. He had a love for watching all sports, especially the Chicago Cubs and the Nebraska Cornhuskers (although he was frustrated with them most of the time). Arlee was also a talented guitar player and singer who loved his patio jam sessions at Quail Run. He was a beloved Papa who went to as many grandkids' activities as he could.

Arlee is survived by his wife of 58 years LaDonna Waring; his three daughters Joni (Scott) Molde, Julie Weisshaar and Jill (Tony) DeLancey; seven grandchildren Zach and Nate Molde, Alexandra, Lauren and Jacob Weisshaar, and Cora and Sullivan DeLancey; his brother Willis (Sally) Waring; and countless friends across the US and Canada. 

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.HamiltonsFu neralHome.com.