David William Gutshall

Des Moines

David William Gutshall, 94 years old, resident of Des Moines, Iowa died on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at Iowa Medical Center, Methodist Hospital.

David was born on April 28, 1917 to Charles Andrew Gutshall and Mamie Shuman Gutshall in Jamaica, Iowa. He was raised on his family’s farm in Jamaica, which was settled in 1889 and has been continuously owned by the family to this day. Due to its history the farm was designated a Century Farm by the Iowa Farm Bureau in 1994. David had one brother, Charles, who died at age 14. David graduated from Drake University in 1939 and was the last living member of the 1935 Jamaica High School class. David was married to Alice Schock of Philadelphia in 1943.

David enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was subsequently selected for Officer Candidate School. His first command was as a squadron adjutant at the Army Air Base in Greenville, Mississippi and subsequently served in Okinawa, the Marshall Islands, Saipan and Ulithi Atoll. During the Korean War David was recalled by the Air Corp and served as a long-range weather forecaster with the 7500th Air Base Group in the London area. After World War II David made a successful career as a securities analyst and corporate officer for Banker’s Life (now Principal).

David maintained an active role in the management of the family farm, trading his yearly share of crops until very recently. He alternately enjoyed and was frustrated by the game of golf, and the University of Iowa has lost one of their most devoted and ardent fans. David was a respected elder of Saint John’s Lutheran Church and received the Interfaith Service Award for his work with the food bank of the Des Moines Area Religious Council.

David enjoyed extensive world travel, but his favorite destination was to the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains where his children eventually settled. He was a supporter of the cultural arts in Des Moines, particularly the Des Moines Symphony. He was extremely articulate and had a wry sense of humor. He enjoyed conversation and fellowship with his contemporaries until just before his death. He cared deeply about his family, community, and nation, and worked for the betterment of our world.

David is survived by his daughter Jean Catherine Lindsey of Denver and her spouse, Dr. Jack Lindsey, and by his daughter Janet Mary Tapy and her spouse, Frank Tapy. He has one grandchild, Mark Francis Tapy. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice and his granddaughter Laura Jean Tapy.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 2 p.m. in the Calvin Community atrium, 4210 Hickman Road, Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David’s name to St. John’s Lutheran Church ((515) 243-7691, www.stjohnsdsm.org) or the Calvin Community Good Samaritan Fund ((515) 277-6141, www.calvincommunity.org).