Donald Pierson

Donald L. Pierson, 82, of Kearney died Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the St. Johns Good Samaritan Home in Kearney. Funeral Services will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Gary Main officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7 at the O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home. Interment will be at Kearney Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Offutt Airforce Honors Team in conjunction with the American Legion Post 52 and VFW Post 759. Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Hospice Service or St. Johns Skilled Nursing Home. Online condolences may be submitted to www.osrfh.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney. Don was born October 29, 1929, in York County to Sander and Effie (Johnson) Pierson. He grew up in Hamilton county and graduated from Marquette High School in 1947. Don entered the Air Force in 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1955. He married Carol Bagley and in 1958 a daughter, Terri Lynn, was born to this union. Don and Terri moved back to Nebraska in 1961. He was united in marriage to Marcia Ellenwood on July 16, 1966 in Winner, South Dakota. Don, Terri, Marcia and her three children; Tim, Greg, and Michelle; began farming in Marquette. After farming in Marquette, the couple moved to Aurora where Don began trucking. He retired in 1996 and moved to Kearney. While in Kearney, Don enjoyed golfing at Meadowlark and playing poker with his buddies. Don was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, hunting and fishing. He is survived by his wife Marcia of Kearney; step-sons Tim and wife Pam Ellenwood of Funk, Greg and wife Julie Ellenwood of Hastings; daughter Terri and husband Jeff Luthy of Lincoln, NE; step daughter Michelle and husband Steve TenBensel of Minden; a sister Virginia Pierson of Lincoln; grand-children Shane and wife Kazzi Teel, Trent and Seth Ellenwood; Evan Adam and Darian Ellenwood; Tony and McKenna TenBensel; great grandchildren Connor, Tabor, and Teagen Teel. He is preceded in death by both parents.

Donald Pierson

October 29, 1929 - January 14, 2012