In Re the Adoption of Blanchard

LeGRAND, Justice.

This is an appeal from a decree of adoption. It is an equitable proceeding, and our review is de novo. In re Adoption of Ellis, 260 Iowa 508, 513, 149 N.W.2d 804, 807; In re Adoption of Moriarity, 260 Iowa 1279, 1285, 152 N.W.2d 218, 221, and citations.

Herbert Eugene Blanchard, the natural father of Sandra J. Blanchard and Donald L. Blanchard, was divorced from their mother in December of 1959. She has since remarried and is now Delores Rippen-kroeger. Her present husband is Francis Rippenkroeger, the petitioner asking adoption of the two children heretofore named. Herbert…