Donald "Whitey" Bixler, age 87, of Clarence, Iowa, died at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City on July 16, 2011. Donald was born August 29, 1923, on his Grandfather's farm north of Clarence to Clarence Bixler and Emma (Sonnemaker) Bixler. Donald married Gladys Arlene Liercke on May 10, 1952 at the little brown church in Nashua. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at St. John's United Church Of Christ in Clarence, Iowa, with Rev. David Mears officiating. An Inurnment will be held in the Clarence Cemetery with Military Rites by Clarence American Legion Post 286. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm on Tuesday, July 19, at Chapman Funeral Home in Clarence. He graduated in 1941 from Clarence High School. During World War II he served in the 45th division, 157th regiment. He was captured at Anzio Beachhead in February of 1944 and was a prisoner of War for 14 months. He was in the trucking business his entire working life, with Frahm and Bixler Trucking, Don Bixler Trucking and then with his brother Jim as Bixler Bros. Trucking. Whitey was a member of the Clarence American Legion, St. John's UCC and the 9 o'clock coffee club. He was honored to be the Grand Marshall in the parade celebrating the 150th year of Clarence. He is survived by sons: Robert (Mary) of Mt. Pleasant, Steve (Lynn) of Clarence; daughters: Kathy (Jeff) Meyer of Tipton, Dixie (Tom Marks) Bixler of Mt. Vernon; grandchildren: Brandi Bixler, Aaron Bixler, Ryan Meyer, Alaina( Erik) Christian, Emily Meyer, Brock (Paige Kack) Bixler, Cale (Brittney) Bixler; great grandchildren: Abby, Aicia, Braxton, and Bailey. Also several nieces and nephews. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, wife Arlene (Toni) on March 19, 1996, brothers Everett and Jim, and Toni's family Wifred and Essie Liercke and Howard and Donna Blake.