David Charles "Punky" Sibley, 65, of Zumbrota, went home Tuesday, September 26th surrounded by his daughters.
David was born December 21, 1957 in Rochester to David Eugene and LaVonne Mae (Fieck) Sibley. He was baptized at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rochester and spent his early childhood in the Mazeppa and Minneola area until the family moved to rural Kenyon in 1965. David was confirmed at Holden Lutheran Church and graduated from Kenyon High School. While in high school, he began employment at Bombay Elevator. Shortly thereafter, he began hauling grain and livestock, and later operated David Sibley Trucking.
In his youth, David developed a passion for raising and driving Belgian horses, and later competed in many horse pulls over the years. He took great pride in being a lifelong member of the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation. He "couldn't remember shit" but he could tell you in great detail about any horse he ever raised or owned. He enjoyed collecting everything - but especially scale models of semi-trucks and tractors, studying the Bible, playing cards, DQ malts, eating liver and onions, Rocky Mountain oysters, and his daughter Sarah's goulash.
His grandchildren were the light of his life and rules did not apply for them no matter what their mothers said. Life long valuable lessons he taught them include: candy is acceptable for supper, how to drive on black top roads at age 4, and how to Make America Great Again. The kids knew it was "Gramps" they should call if they had questions about the farm animals - especially chickens, horses, and Herefords. He held his siblings in high regard and enjoyed Sunday dinners with them and their families.
Dave's humorous, conversational nature was often entertaining and inspired life-long connections with many long-time friends and family. In true David fashion, he probably asked you "who's the coolest guy you know, and why am I?" And often ended with "glad you had a chance to see me." To know him was to know Peterbilts, Belgians, Harley Davidsons, Mazeppa, NRA, Fox News, tractors, wit, delegation, on-line auctions, chickens, impatience, and most of all love.
David is survived by his daughters and "the best" sons-in-law. Heather (Jon) Kerr, Sarah (Adam) Bang and Meggan (Nate) Fleming; his pride and joy - grandchildren; Harper and Karlie Kerr, Kendall and Bristol Bang, Siri Loken, and Nori and Oakley Fleming; his siblings whom he was very close with - Debra (Sam) Daly of Northfield, Sterling (Laurie) Sibley of Bombay, Jackie(Jeff) Ladsten of Rochester, Missy (Jack) Duden of Maiden Rock, WI and Charlie (Ricki) Sibley of Mazeppa; his nephews and nieces whom will forever cherish their memories with their favorite "Uncle Punky"; highly regarded friend Richard "Trickster" Nystuen of Bombay, and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, and infant brother Max.
Visitation will be from 4pm - 7pm on Monday, October 2nd at Mahn Funeral Home in Zumbrota. Funeral Service will be at 11am on Tuesday, October 3rd at Holden Lutheran Church in Kenyon with visitation one hour prior. It wouldn't be a true send-off if we didn't include horses. His final ride will be a horse drawn wagon to the church at 9:45am. Memorials are suggested to Holden Park, Holden Church, or the Zumbrota Area Ambulance.
