Donald “Don” Magnussen, 94, of Primghar passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at Prairie View Retirement Home in Sanborn.
His funeral service was held Saturday, Aug. 29, at Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina. Burial was at Prairie View Cemetery in Paullina. Arrangements were under the care of Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.
Donald Edward Magnussen, the son of John and Mabel (Marth) Magnussen was born Nov. 17, 1931, in Cherokee. He attended country school and was a 1950 graduate of Larrabee High School. On April 13, 1952, he was united in marriage to Ila Hoeppner at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. After their marriage the couple settled in Cherokee for six months before moving to a farm northwest of Larrabee, where he worked for Roy Lundell for 10 years. After which he began farming for himself and he never retired. He even helped with the 2025 fall harvest. The couple moved off the family farm in 2018 and moved into Primghar. Due to failing health, he moved to Prairie View Retirement Home in Sanborn, where he resided for three weeks. He passed away at Prairie View on Aug. 25, reaching the age of 94 years, nine months and eight days.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina, Primghar Golf and Country Club and Paullina Golf Club. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Later in life he enjoyed word search, spending time with his family and golfing, which he was able to do up until a few weeks ago. He and Ila enjoyed a trip to the casino once and awhile.
Don is survived by his wife of over 74 years, Ila Magnussen of Sanborn; children: Debbie (Bill) Maher of Peosta; Dana (Fred) Schuknecht of Paullina; and Mark (Diane) Magnussen of Larrabee; eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister Emma Jean Pearson of Everly; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Milroy Magnussen; and sister Donna Bach.
