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Duane
Edwin Donaldson
Duane Edwin Donaldson, 61, of Grand Island, died Sunday
September 28th at home with his family by
his side following a courageous battle with cancer.
Services will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 1st at Trinity United Methodist Church. The Reverends Nancy Lambert and Randy
Fett will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island Cemetery with full military honors.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at All Faiths
Funeral Home. Cremation will take place following the visitation.
Mr. Donaldson was born January 11, 1947, in Albion, NE to Charles and Helen Clipston Donaldson.
Immediate family survivors include his wife, Linna Dee;
son, Adam, daughter, Emily; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Virginia
and Jerry White of Grand Island, and Lois and Red Smith of Columbus;
brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Coleen Donaldson of Bridgeport,
NE.
Other survivors are beloved grandchildren Kaleb Donaldson
and Torrin Donaldson; mother and father-in-law Leland and Lottie
Rogers of Grand Island; sister-in-law, Linda Beranek of Ft. Worth,
TX; former brother-in-law, Dan Meysenburg of Columbus; many nieces,
nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents and sister,
Carolyn Maricle.
Duane was raised on the family farm south of Albion. After high school graduation he attended
Kearney State College for two years before enlisting in the United
States Marine Corps. While at Kearney State,
Duane played football and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. As
a result of that membership he has had the concern and support of
many old, dear friends throughout his illness. Duane joined
the Marine Corps in June, 1968, served in Vietnam, and was discharged
as a Sergeant, E5 in May, 1971, after being awarded the Navy Achievement
Medal for his service in Vietnam. Upon his discharge, he returned
to Kearney State to finish his degree in education. Duane
taught at Barr Jr. High for seven years. Then he worked with
his old friend, Gary Hoos, selling Shelter Insurance for two years. He
worked as an agriculture loan officer at Overland National Bank for
fourteen years, supervised the Pump and Pantry division of Bosselman,
Inc. for five years, and retired from Home Federal Bank as a commercial
loan officer after five years due to ill health in July, 2006. Duane
loved every job he had and was proud to have worked with and for
such fine people and institutions.
On November 22, 1969, before being stationed in Vietnam, Duane and Linna Dee Rogers
were united in marriage in Arapahoe, NE. They lived their entire
married life in Grand Island. Duane
was a devoted father and grandfather. The family spent much
time with activities involving horses and cattle, attending shows
and caring for the animals both in Grand Island and
at the farm at Albion. Duane
could often be found leaning on the fence at his pasture or trail
riding with his friends. Since his retirement, Duane planned
frequent trail rides that covered land around Grand
Island, Albion, and the Loup River area.
Duane believed in giving back to the community and was
involved in many activities including: Hall County Agricultural
Society, Hall County Sheriff’s Posse, Kiwanis, Fonner Keno
Board, Pine Ridge Riders, Stuhr Museum Operating Board, United Way
Board, AIN Board, and Ambassador’s Club at the Chamber, various
boards, offices, and teaching positions at Trinity United Methodist Church. A great joy in his life was
attending his Saturday Morning Breakfast Club every week with friends
he made over time and in cooking monthly meals for the Sheriff’s
Posse for the past several years.
Memorials are suggested to Nebraska Children’s
Home Society, Trinity United Methodist Church, Grand Island Education Foundation,
or Stuhr Museum Foundation.
