Donald L. Whitmire
Donald (Don) Lee Whitmire, 95, died in Lincoln on July 23, 2023. Don was born on October 8, 1927, in Sidney, Nebraska, to Austin and Minnie(Seyfang)Whitmire. He grew up as an only child in Sunol, NE. After graduating from high school in Sidney, Don joined the Army. He was stationed in Fort Knox and played in the Army band something he continued to do in college and as a member of the Tehama Shrine. After leaving the Army, Don attended Hastings College where he met Lou Jean Blum of Alma, NE and married in 1951. They lived in Sidney, Alma, Phillipsburg (KS) and back to Alma in 1964 before moving to Lincoln two years ago. Don continued with service to his country in the Kansas National Guard for several years. In Alma, he was a longtime elder of the First Christian Church. Don owned Whitmire’s Appliance that sold and repaired TVs, appliances and other electronics in addition to selling paint and wallpaper. They also owned the town laundromat. Don semi-retired in 1996 after selling his store but stayed active, working there for another decade. Don loved living near the Harlan County Reservoir and spent a lot of time fishing, hunting and boating with family and friends. Don is survived by his wife of 72 years, Lou Jean; daughter Susan Whitmire Brown and son Jon (Linda) Whitmire all of Lincoln; 7 grandchildren Chris Whitmire, Mike (Jessica) Whitmire, Jay (Katie) Brown, Kailee (Matt) Dow, Elly Brown, Austin Whitmire, Ethan Whitmire; 6 great-grandchildren Kaleb, Kaidyn, Hannah, Van, Kendall, Aiden. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Van Whitmire and son-in- law David Brown. Memorial service will be held at Alma Berean Church on September 2 nd at eleven o’clock. Memorials are suggested to be directed to family to purchase a bench along the lake’s Pheasant Ridge Trail walking path in front of their long-time Alma home. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Walter Byrd Ducker
Walter Byrd Ducker (also known as Butch) passed on into eternity July 18, 2023 at the mature age of 81. He was born on May 21, 1942 to Walter and Della Byrd Ducker in Lincoln, Nebraska. Walt graduated from Lincoln High School in 1960. He then served in the National Guard, as well as Active Duty with the Army. He later worked for the Federal Governments, Soil Conservation Service as a Civil Engineer /Surveyor for over 30 years. Soon after he retired, Walt said the heck with retiring and therefore he re-fired into a new career as a Mason for quite a few years with many of his friends and family. In his younger years, he loved going on trips and long drives with the aid of his favorite “GPS” – a good old fashioned paper map – camping, dirt bike riding, boating, skiing snowmobiling, and simply just touring with friends and family. Throughout Walt’s entire life, he spent a considerable amount of time researching countless topics of world knowledge and understanding. This was truly his passion and what drove & invigorated him, which he modeled to his family in his own personal way. A resounding posture he commonly took was to not just believe everything you hear but to seek the truth and find out for yourself what actually is true about life. Walt was an avid collector of a wide variety of useful things in one way or another. If someone was in need of any given item or answer to any given subject, pertaining to pretty much any aspect of life, he was sure to have some sort of solution to help get you on your way. You could say he was a “Jack of all Trades” – this gavehim a greater sense of purpose and security to be capable of anything and everything that he would embark upon. Many knew him as a strong hearted, strong willed, and strong minded man, not to mention, ornery and gruff at times when he would get a skip in his step. However once you pierced through that tough nature you would find a good hearted man who always had a naturalness of being there to help others – especially in times of need. Walt also seemed to take in every stray cat (and even a stray dog) into Mary & His acreage home, making sure they were fed and cared for especially during the winter months as well as being free to roam the land. In his latter years, months and weeks, he very much enjoyed being part of the work at his neighbor Kelvin’s manufacturing shop and aircraft hangar which included a private aircraft runway, as well as an escape retreat get-a-way, giving him access to one of his favorite activities – operating large, heavy equipment and machines. Walt was a father, friend and family to those that knew him in his own unique special way, as well as a true fighter all the way up till the pinnacle of his life. We bless him with peace and abundance going forward, we love him eternally and look forward to seeing him again when we all unite in this beautiful & majestic place, that all of us have a hope of experiencing…called heaven. He is survived by his significant other, Mary Lohse; sister, Mary Koch (Jim); 4 children, Amy Cavender, Angy Ducker (Jay Carter), Scott Ducker (Julie), and Crystal Kennedy (Mike); 6 grandchildren, Colt Cavender, Brook Thurman (Zach), Sam Cavender, Jake Kennedy, Parker Watson, Carter Watson; and 1 Great Grandchild due in December 2023. No services will be held at this time.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Walter Byrd Ducker
To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Walter Byrd Ducker
To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Jose R. Padilla Nadal
Born on April 4, 1935. Passed away on July 19, 2023. No service information at this time. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Erick T. Lewis
Born on April 28, 1977. Passed away on July 19, 2023. No service information at this time. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Mark Rustin Johnson
Mark Rustin Johnson, 62, passed away peacefully at the Monarch on July 19, 2023 just shy of his 63rd birthday. A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 am, Tuesday July 25that Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 S 84th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506. Mark was born July 26, 1960 in Hastings, Nebraska to Glen and Judith (Sanford) Johnson. Mark moved with his family to Lincoln in 1962. He graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 1978. He attended Concordia College for one year before pursuing other career goals. Mark married Karen (Patocka) Johnson on September 5, 1981. They had two daughters; Korissa Larson (Travis), and Kayla Fitzgerald (Bryan). He was a devoted and loving husband, father and “Gpa.” Mark loved being a dad to his girls and watching them grow up. Mark found happiness in being with his three grandchildren; Hailey and Maxwell Larson, and Kaden Fitzgerald. He always arrived first to support them at their music concerts, Boy Scouts, or sporting events. Mark loved smoking meats and making incredible food for others. He enjoyed driving, sitting at Holmes Lake and listening to audiobooks while drinking Sonic Coke. He loved to tell stories about all his past experiences and accomplishments. One project he assisted with was arranging and building a home for a giveaway in support of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Mark loved working, and many coworkers became friends. Mark cared deeply for those he loved, and always knew how to make people laugh. Mark was not someone you could easily forget if you met him. Mark had a strong faith and while he is greatly missed, we know God welcomed him with open arms, and he is with Jesus. Mark’s family include older brother Michael Johnson (Kelly), and younger sister Stacy Loucks (Larry). Sheri Zastrow, (Dave), Arizona. Nephews and nieces; Sean Johnson (Kaitlyn Skala), Grace Johnson (Taylor Birdwell), Payton Loucks (Jack Fynbu), Brad Zastrow, Kelly Ciric, and Tim Zastrow. Mark was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Marie Johnson, and Gerald and Dorothy Sanford. Uncle Larry Sanford and Aunt Barb Smith; cousins, Greg Johnson, and Todd Ruhter, parents-in-law Gerald and Carol Patocka, brother-in-law David, and sister-in-law, Susan. Memorial tributes may be directed to Mark Johnson’s family to assist with expenses. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.