Jumbo

Donald Eugene Sells, Sr. “aka Jumbo” passed away peacefully on January 31, 2024, at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, surrounded by his family.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, February 5th at 2:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 PM Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Private family burial will be at the Gowrie Cemetery in Gowrie.

Donald Eugene Sells, the son of Wilferd and Viola (Currier) Sells, was born in Iowa City, Iowa on February 2, 1940. He went to grade school in Callender and Gowrie, Iowa. Then the family moved to Fort Dodge where Jumbo finished his education and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1958.

Jumbo served in the Army National Guard with his brother, Bob, from 1956 – 1958 and was given an honorable discharge. Shortly thereafter, Jumbo started his work career at National Gypsum, where he worked for 43 years.

In 1960, Jumbo met the love of his life, Bernie Olson. The couple united in marriage at Christ Lutheran Church on September 4, 1960. To this marriage, three children were born; Donald (Maureen), Scottsdale, AZ, Arnelle “Nellie” (Kenny), Fort Dodge, IA and Kevin (Karee), also of Fort Dodge, IA. The couple resided in Badger and Fort Dodge, IA.

Throughout his years, Jumbo was very involved within his communities. He was a Union President and Steward of Local 66 Credit Union. He was also actively involved in the Badger Lions Club. Not only did he bowl, but he was President of the Fort Dodge Bowling Association and is in the Fort Dodge Bowling Hall of Fame. He also won the “Gene Petcoff” Award in 1997-98. Jumbo and Bernie mentored youth bowling for several years in Fort Dodge.

Jumbo may be most remembered by his coaching of the kids around Badger. He coached everything from flag football to basketball to baseball. Jumbo was very instrumental in bringing a new baseball field to Badger. He coached several teams in the Fort Dodge Teener League and even won a City-Wide Championship. He never missed one of his children’s sporting events and no child from Badger went without a ride home, because he was always available.

One of Jumbo’s greatest passions was drag racing, and he took his son, Kevin, to the Humboldt County Dragway when he was only ten years old. His friend, John Williams, needed help that night at the dragstrip and asked Jumbo and Kevin if they wanted to help, thus began an over 30-year relationship with the dragstrip, where he and Kevin worked every weekend! And Kevin still works there to this day.

It was once said by a friend of his, “How could you not like Jumbo, he just loves life.” This is absolutely true, as he always had a smile or a funny hello, or even more his T-shirts with funny sayings on them that he liked to show everyone.

Jumbo is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Bernie, his three children, his grandchildren Colin (Tiffanie) Sells, of Mesa, AZ, and their children Cienna & Cannon Sells; Zach (Jessica) Sells of Fort Dodge, IA and their children Tyler, Brayden, Cameron and Rosalynn, of Fort Dodge, IA and Brock Sells of Fort Dodge, IA, and his sister, UnaLee. Jumbo was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Juanita, Alice, Bob, Michael Sr, Richard Bruce, and Randy.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.