Dr. David L. Pence, D.V.M., 64, of Ankeny, fought the good fight against Acute Myeloid Leukemia, MK+. David had been at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN since December 6, 2011, and came home to live out his last days on April 9, 2012. While at Mayo he received such wonderful care, especially from Dr. Patnaik, Dr. Singh, and their entire medical team. He passed away on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
David was born May 21, 1947, to Dora M. (Stover) and Melvin E. Pence, Sr. in Eldora, Iowa. On September 2, 1967, he married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl A. King at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Eldora, Iowa. Dr. Pence graduated from Eldora High School in 1965, attended Kansas City Key Punch School later working at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, served 3 ½ years as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Vet Corp stationed at Ft. Snelling, MN, and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, Ames in 1976. For 25 years, he was a large and small animal veterinarian throughout Eastern Iowa and for 9 years was the State Veterinarian at the Dubuque Greyhound Park. He also did relief work for various veterinary clinics across Iowa. In 2001, he moved to Ankeny to work for the USDA as a Veterinary Medical Officer.
He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, the IVMA, AASP, AABP, and AVMA. He spent numerous hours serving on various church committees and going on mission trips to Parkersburg, Cedar Rapids, and Colfax. Dave was a long time apheresis (platelet) donor, helping others battle cancer and other health conditions.
After retirement in 2007, he enjoyed spending time with his treasured wife and family and doing things for others. He also loved gardening and outdoor work, charity work, volunteering, providing 4-H and agriculture scholarships, reading, and most of all, eating lots of ice cream. One of the Pence's goals was to visit all 50 state capitals and to fulfill his final wishes, they even visited three more capitals just weeks before he passed away; together he and his wife were able to visit a total of 30 state capitals. Recently, Dr. Pence and his wife were presented the Red Cross Heroes of the Heartland Award for their never-ending service to others.
Dave was devoted to his family, especially his beloved wife of 45 years, Cheryl. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife and two daughters, Dr. Brenda R. (Dr. Gary) Palmer of Dayton, OH and Tammy S. (Chaz) Field of Lakeville, MN and the joys of his life, his five grandchildren, Renee, Nick, and A.J. Palmer, and Summer and Farrah Field. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. Dora M. (Stover) Pence of Newton, and four brothers, George (Nancy) Pence of Loxahatchee, FL, Dr. Mel (Pam) Pence of Scottsdale, AZ, Levi (Barb) Pence of Newton, and Alex (Rose) Pence of Marshalltown, as well as numerous beloved family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin E. Pence, Sr., grandparents, and mother-in-law, Roberta J. (Pope) King.
Learn more about David on the Pence Family History site: