David Lee Downs, 71, of Toledo, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at UnityPoint-Iowa Methodist Center in Des Moines. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Friday, February 28, 2020 from 4-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.

David was born on March 18, 1948,  in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Clifford and Eleanor (Dillman) Downs.

He grew up in Montour and graduated from South Tama High School in 1967. He also attended  Marshalltown Community College for Auto Mechanics.

On June 12, 1968, he was united in marriage to Shirley Backen at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Tama.

David served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

He was an auto mechanic, a farmer, and was a welder at Donaldson's in Grinnell for twenty-six years.

David was a member of the American Legion. He loved fishing and hunting, playing cards and darts, collecting coins, and traveling all over the world with Shirley. They had a passion for spending time on the water fishing, and many other activities in their travels. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and especially his grandkids.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-one years, Shirley of Toledo; three children, Brian (Sarah) Downs of Monroe Center, IL, Mindy (Dru) Weidner of Iowa City, and Cristi (Joshua) Sales of Tama; seven grandchildren, Stephen Johnson, Jared Downs, Mason Downs, Jackson Snider, Xander Weidner, Violet and Tristan Sales; siblings, Sonja (Lanny) Hoskey of Tama, Denise Downs (Robert Stocklose) of Rogers, AR, Tim (Pat) Downs of Tama, and Tom (Deb) Downs of Waterloo; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and one sister, Marsha Lynn Downs

Memorials may be directed to the Tama County Humane Society.