Dr. Donald D. Ahrendsen

Dr. Donald Ahrendsen, age 77, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, August 3, 2015 at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 8th at Crossbridge Community Church with Pastor Sherry Stevenson officiating.  Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. till service time Saturday at the church.  Gladfelter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Donald Dean Ahrendsen, DVM, was born July 10, 1938 in Anamosa, Iowa to Hans and Sofie (Friedrichsen) Ahrendsen.  He is a first generation American whose parents immigrated to the United States in the 1920s through Ellis Island.  He grew up on a farm in Oxford Junction, Iowa, attended a one room school house next to the farm, and Olin High School.  Don was a school bus driver when in high school.  After high school he worked for a heating and plumbing company out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Don enlisted in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s.  He was stationed at the Berlin Wall in Germany.  He re-enlisted after three years and did some traveling in his off time, meeting some of his mother’s relatives.  Upon returning to the United States, he enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and continued his education, being accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine.  Upon completion of his education and internship in Wisconsin, he joined Dr. James Neil and staff at the Ottawa Veterinary Hospital, practicing both large and small animal.  In 1978 Dr. Ahrendsen built the Fox Valley Veterinary Clinic in Ottawa and practiced both large and small animal work there for approximately 26 years until he sold it to Dr. Dave Clayton and semi-retired.  He continued to do part-time surgery until March, 2015.  Don loved animals and was a supporter of the rescue groups, Pet Project, Just Animals and the Emergency Animal Response team.

Dr. Ahrendsen was also an avid member of Rotary International and the ideals and services it provides.  He served as president of the Ottawa Noon Rotary in 2004 and District Governor in 2010.  He was also a Paul Harris Fellow.  Don and Bonnie hosted several Rotary Exchange Students.  He was also a member of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and attended Crossbridge Community Church of the Nazarene.

He married Bonnie Brydon on October 14, 1973 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, in Iowa. They have a son, Scott Ahrendsen and his wife Brittney, of Ottawa and a daughter, Sarah and her husband Bobby Stedman of Cleveland, Tennessee.  Don and Bonnie have eight grandchildren, Tyler and Mike Ahrendsen of Ottawa and Eian Spayer, Thad, Allie, Chase, Brydon and Sonya Stedman of Tennessee.

Don is survived by his wife, Bonnie, children, grandchildren in Illinois and Tennessee, a sister and sister-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews in Iowa.  Don loved the Lord, his family, animals and his occupation.  He also loved fishing, especially in Alaska.  He will be missed.

Memorial contributions may be directed to any animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice or to the Ottawa Noon Rotary Club