Donald Theodore Emery “Teddy”

Donald Theodore Emery (Teddy), some of you knew him as Don, some of you knew him as Teddy, some of you knew him as an asshole, but to me he was dad.

He graduated high school, and went on to attend art school. He was in a band. He loved music. He had a few decent jobs and then ran his own remodeling business. He had a group of friends that he grew up with, that he still talked to. He was raised by a single mom and grew up alongside a younger sister. His friends and family meant the world to him (although he would never admit it). He met a beautiful young lady named Donna, and they had a whirlwind courtship, which resulted in his greatest achievement, his daughter Kristin.

His hobbies included coin collecting, keno, and drinking beer. His passion was photography and music. His life motto was to give ‘em hell.

In 2020 he was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. He went through chemo and radiation then went into remission. In 2022 he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He underwent a lifesaving surgery that resulted in the loss of his kidney but removed all tumors. In 2023 the bladder cancer was back and a little more advanced. He underwent some treatments. He had a hard time accepting his cancer diagnosis. In 2024 when going in for a consultation to discuss his prognosis of the cancer it was discovered the cancer has spread to his lungs. He went in for surgery to try to remove tumors. It was unsuccessful, and he went into hospice for comfort care. On May 1st he was struggling to breathe, in a moment of silence he took his last breath.

Donald Emery was survived by his only daughter Kristin (Emery) DeGarmo. He had 4 grandchildren: Nick DeGarmo Jr.; Jayme Grant; Noah DeGarmo; and Maddison Emery DeGarmo. He had one great grandchild Sadie DeGarmo. (All from Lincoln, NE). He had one sister Sheila Carvajal (Jesus) of Denver Colorado. He had many nieces and nephews. He had cousins and aunts and uncles as well as some lifelong friends: Larry Taco of Tucson, AZ; Jerry and Deborah Farquhar of Lincoln, NE; and Marty Tilts of Galveston TX.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; his mom Ruth Emery; step dad Stan Grant; the love of his love Donna Jenkins; and his best friend Terry Tippery.

He will be greatly missed. If there’s one thing I will remember him for it… he gave me permission to just be myself and as long as I was happy, it’s all that matters.

Thanks for the memories.  Fly High dad.
-Kristin

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