Donald Gifford Ribble

Donald 'Don' Gifford Ribble, 85, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Private family graveside service: Spring Grove Cemetery, Covington. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, December 3, 2015, at Cottage Grove Place, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include his sons, Jeff Ribble of Iowa City and Phil Ribble of Riverside; daughter, Elizabeth (Chris) Vahlkamp of St. Louis, Missouri; sister, Susan (Abraham) Oglanian of Cedar Rapids; nephew and nieces, Jim Oglanian, Ann Oglanian, and Lynn (Jim) Goeke; step-niece, Susan Swank; and many friends. Don was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Harry and Ruth (Gifford) Ribble. He attended McKinley High School, then attended Coe College and graduated in 1952. After Coe, Don attended law school at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1955. He then joined the United States Marines Corps, serving through 1957. In January, 1958, he began working for Lynch Dallas Smith & Harman. He married his loving wife, Joanne Henderson on June 24, 1972. They enjoyed traveling, and spending time at social events. Don's real passion was for the law and his firm, but at home he enjoyed working on the lawn and was often seen riding his beloved John Deere. For over fifty years Don was an active trial lawyer and a past president with the Lynch law firm, now known as Lynch Dallas, P.C. He retired from Lynch Dallas and moved to Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids following the death of his wife, Joanne, in May of 2012. He was a 50 year member and past President of the Linn County Bar Association. Don was active for many years and a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. Don was a respected trial lawyer by his peers and the clients he served all over the state of Iowa. Since 1986, Don was a life time member of the Coe College Board of Trustees. Don was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Joanne. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Coe College Fund.