Donald 'Hap' Kounkel, 79, of Merrill, Iowa, died on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at his home in Merrill.

Celebration of Life Service will be at 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2025, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Burial will be at a later date at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hinton, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials can be made to St. Croix Hospice and Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hinton, Iowa.

Donald Dean Kounkel, the son of Roy and Loretta (Robinson) Kounkel, was born on April 9, 1946. He grew up in Stanton Township, rural Plymouth County, Iowa. He attended country school and later high school in Hinton. He graduated from Hinton High School in 1964. While in high school, he drove the bus for the school. Following his schooling, he started farming and drove truck.

He was united in marriage to Sandy Susie on July 23, 1977, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa.

Hap continued to farm until 2000, when he went to work for Central Plains Deisel in Le Mars. Later, he drove a delivery truck for a while. For the past several years, he worked as a handyman.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hinton, Iowa. He enjoyed having coffee with his friends. He also enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden, tinkering in his garage, attending auctions and rummage sales, and watching Western movies. He will be remembered for many things, especially his willingness to help others that were in need. His greatest joy was his family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Sandy of Merrill, IA; two sons: Jay (Paula) Kounkel of Merrill, IA, and Tyler Kounkel (Amy Bock) of Le Mars, IA; 2 grandchildren: Natalie 'Lou' Kounkel and Levi Kounkel, both of Le Mars, IA; step grandchildren: Kasey Schumann of Fort Dodge, IA, Aaron Schumann of South Sioux City, NE, Nicole Schumann of Fort Dodge, IA, and Chloe Hansen of Le Mars, IA; his brother: Jack (Connie) Kounkel of Merrill, IA; his in laws: Jeannie (Roy) Williams of Holstein, IA, Kathy McCabe of Hermitage, TN, and Rose (Pete) Visser of Garner, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Vincent and Norma Susie; and his brothers: Keith Kounkel and Blaine 'Bing' Kounkel.