Donald "Don" Ardell Troyer

Donald (Don) Ardell Troyer, age 94, passed away quietly, the evening of August 20, 2026.

Don was born on May 21, 1932, to Chris E. and Cora (Miller) Troyer at home on the family farm outside Kalona, Iowa. He attended Brush No. 8 School, a one-room country school, through the eighth grade. He helped on the farm until he left for Chicago, Illinois, to work as an orderly at Alexian Brothers Hospital for two years. One confessed highlight of his time in Chicago was personally consuming, in one sitting, a half-gallon of ice cream with his apartment mates doing the same. His love for ice cream evolved into his homemade ice cream with strawberries becoming an expected treat at all major and minor family celebrations. Sunday night popcorn with ice cream was another family favorite.

Don met his first wife, Fannie Mae Stutzman, on a blind date arranged by mutual friends while she volunteered at the Children's Hospital in Iowa City. They married, bought a home in Kalona, and over the years gave birth to five children, a son and four daughters. Don worked as a car mechanic at the local Chrysler-Plymouth dealership and later in the parts department at Farmer's Sales and Supplies.

In 1968, Don moved the family to Nampa, Idaho, where he joined his brother Wilbur's fertilizer application business to form Troyer Brothers Custom Fertilizing, a successful operation that partnered with Producers Supply Cooperative in its early days.

Don lost his first wife to cancer and, at the age of 39, was left to raise five children as a young, single father. He eventually met and married Phyllis Freiburghaus, herself widowed by the loss of her first husband, Lyle, to cancer and mother of two young sons.

Don knew life was not always a rose garden, but he believed strongly that he could create one to bring himself and others joy. He leaves a legacy of beautiful rose beds and a weekly, twice-mowed, carefully prescribed, mow-patterned lawn that was the envy of those passing by and rivaled any manicured baseball outfield. His favorite hymn was "In the Garden," and he is there now — pruning the roses, tending to the grass and harvesting sweet corn, radishes, and kohlrabies from the Garden.

Don was probably best known for his walking speed, somewhere between high-gear and overdrive. He was always on the move. Don was a generous man, giving his time and resources whenever and wherever they were needed. He was an active member of Nampa First Church of the Nazarene for many years and attended regularly until his health prevented him from getting out.

Don is survived by his children: Lowell (Marcia) Troyer of Hutchinson, MN; Renee (Paul) Corrick of Coeur d'Alene, ID; Mary Ann (Brian) Rhom of Nampa, ID; Regina (Jeff) Lindholm of Dexter, MI; Joy (Rob) Forbes of Kuna, ID; and stepsons Brian (Stacy) Freiburghaus of Nampa, ID, and Darin Freiburghaus of Nampa, ID.

Don has 19 surviving grandchildren: Matthew, Mark, Kaylene, Caleb, Megan, James, Chris, Jennifer, Stefanie, Trenton, Andrew, Joey, Robert, Cierra, Jordan, Adam, Logan, Carlee, and Ryan. There are 30 surviving great-grandchildren.

Donald is survived by his siblings: Wilbur Troyer of Nampa, ID; Carolyn Vaandrager of Grand Rapids, MI; Mary (Dick) Means of Riverside, IA; and Keith (Linda) Troyer of Kalona, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Cora Troyer; his first wife, Fannie Mae (Stutzman) Troyer; his second wife, Phyllis Ann (Campbell) Freiburghaus Troyer; and his siblings Paul Troyer, Cleo Troyer, Marjorie Troyer, Lois Birky, Wava Reschly, Harold Troyer, and John Troyer.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 3, at 11 am, in the chapel at First Nazarene Church, 601 16th Ave S, Nampa, ID 83651. If you would like to honor Don with cash in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Copper Falls Hospice, 1830 South Eagle Road, Meridian, ID, 83642, in memory of Don Troyer.