Donald E. "Don" Nichelson, 58, of Cozad died of a brain tumor Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at his home. Don was born Nov. 16, 1952, at Cozad to Donald and Eva (McCance) Nichelson.
Don grew up on a farm north of Cozad and worked with his dad on the corn sheller and breaking horses. He attended school at District 30 in Cozad, Cozad High School and Loveland High School in Loveland, CO. While in high school, Don worked at Evans Bakery, Corky King Thoroughbred Ranches and area feed mills. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1971 and served on the U.S.S. Frances Hammond and on the U.S.S. Sampson as a Boiler Technician. He was honorably discharged in 1976.
Don met his sweetheart, Sandra Lou Laird in Keyes, OK while working for Premier Cattle Co. and the couple was married on September 5, 1982 at Holly Colorado. The couple moved to Cozad in 1982. While in Cozad, Don not only farmed and cared for livestock, he also worked at Tenneco Automotive, Consolidated Nutrituion and hauled cattle for Hood Trucking. In 2008, he began working for Cornhusker Energy in Lexington, running boilers until January 2011 when his health would not allow him to continue.
Don had a special love for horses and all animals. Don loved kids and assisted with the Nebraska State Horse show for many years, where he met many friends that he valued for life. Don's most treasured time was spent with his family. He had a smile that everyone was fond of and he will be missed by all who knew him.
Don was active in the Dawson County 4-H program and served on the 4-H Foundation and Council. He served as a leader of the Knightriders 4-H Horse Club and was one of the original Horsefeathers 4-H Club members. He served as President on the 81R District School Board, was an active member of the Cozad Honor Guard and a member of the VFW.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and 2 grandsons, Jeffery Andrews and Colton Thayer.
Survivors are: wife; sons, Ben and Donnie, both of Cozad; daughters, Tracie Andrews of Kearney, Cassie Sundstrom of Maxwell and Eva Dawn of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brothers, Raymond of Farnam and Richard of Cozad; sister, Louise Hamar-Hintz of Yuma, Colo.; and four grandsons.
Burial with military honors was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery north of Cozad, NE.
Published in Kearney Hub on November 1, 2011
Don grew up on a farm north of Cozad and worked with his dad on the corn sheller and breaking horses. He attended school at District 30 in Cozad, Cozad High School and Loveland High School in Loveland, CO. While in high school, Don worked at Evans Bakery, Corky King Thoroughbred Ranches and area feed mills. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1971 and served on the U.S.S. Frances Hammond and on the U.S.S. Sampson as a Boiler Technician. He was honorably discharged in 1976.
Don met his sweetheart, Sandra Lou Laird in Keyes, OK while working for Premier Cattle Co. and the couple was married on September 5, 1982 at Holly Colorado. The couple moved to Cozad in 1982. While in Cozad, Don not only farmed and cared for livestock, he also worked at Tenneco Automotive, Consolidated Nutrituion and hauled cattle for Hood Trucking. In 2008, he began working for Cornhusker Energy in Lexington, running boilers until January 2011 when his health would not allow him to continue.
Don had a special love for horses and all animals. Don loved kids and assisted with the Nebraska State Horse show for many years, where he met many friends that he valued for life. Don's most treasured time was spent with his family. He had a smile that everyone was fond of and he will be missed by all who knew him.
Don was active in the Dawson County 4-H program and served on the 4-H Foundation and Council. He served as a leader of the Knightriders 4-H Horse Club and was one of the original Horsefeathers 4-H Club members. He served as President on the 81R District School Board, was an active member of the Cozad Honor Guard and a member of the VFW.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and 2 grandsons, Jeffery Andrews and Colton Thayer.
Survivors are: wife; sons, Ben and Donnie, both of Cozad; daughters, Tracie Andrews of Kearney, Cassie Sundstrom of Maxwell and Eva Dawn of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brothers, Raymond of Farnam and Richard of Cozad; sister, Louise Hamar-Hintz of Yuma, Colo.; and four grandsons.
Burial with military honors was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery north of Cozad, NE.
Published in Kearney Hub on November 1, 2011
Donald E. "Don" Nichelson, 58, of Cozad died of a brain tumor Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at his home. Don was born Nov. 16, 1952, at Cozad to Donald and Eva (McCance) Nichelson.
Don grew up on a farm north of Cozad and worked with his dad on the corn sheller and breaking horses. He attended school at District 30 in Cozad, Cozad High School and Loveland High School in Loveland, CO. While in high school, Don worked at Evans Bakery, Corky King Thoroughbred Ranches and area feed mills. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1971 and served on the U.S.S. Frances Hammond and on the U.S.S. Sampson as a Boiler Technician. He was honorably discharged in 1976.
Don met his sweetheart, Sandra Lou Laird in Keyes, OK while working for Premier Cattle Co. and the couple was married on September 5, 1982 at Holly Colorado. The couple moved to Cozad in 1982. While in Cozad, Don not only farmed and cared for livestock, he also worked at Tenneco Automotive, Consolidated Nutrituion and hauled cattle for Hood Trucking. In 2008, he began working for Cornhusker Energy in Lexington, running boilers until January 2011 when his health would not allow him to continue.
Don had a special love for horses and all animals. Don loved kids and assisted with the Nebraska State Horse show for many years, where he met many friends that he valued for life. Don's most treasured time was spent with his family. He had a smile that everyone was fond of and he will be missed by all who knew him.
Don was active in the Dawson County 4-H program and served on the 4-H Foundation and Council. He served as a leader of the Knightriders 4-H Horse Club and was one of the original Horsefeathers 4-H Club members. He served as President on the 81R District School Board, was an active member of the Cozad Honor Guard and a member of the VFW.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and 2 grandsons, Jeffery Andrews and Colton Thayer.
Survivors are: wife; sons, Ben and Donnie, both of Cozad; daughters, Tracie Andrews of Kearney, Cassie Sundstrom of Maxwell and Eva Dawn of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brothers, Raymond of Farnam and Richard of Cozad; sister, Louise Hamar-Hintz of Yuma, Colo.; and four grandsons.
Burial with military honors was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery north of Cozad, NE.
Published in Kearney Hub on November 1, 2011
Don grew up on a farm north of Cozad and worked with his dad on the corn sheller and breaking horses. He attended school at District 30 in Cozad, Cozad High School and Loveland High School in Loveland, CO. While in high school, Don worked at Evans Bakery, Corky King Thoroughbred Ranches and area feed mills. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1971 and served on the U.S.S. Frances Hammond and on the U.S.S. Sampson as a Boiler Technician. He was honorably discharged in 1976.
Don met his sweetheart, Sandra Lou Laird in Keyes, OK while working for Premier Cattle Co. and the couple was married on September 5, 1982 at Holly Colorado. The couple moved to Cozad in 1982. While in Cozad, Don not only farmed and cared for livestock, he also worked at Tenneco Automotive, Consolidated Nutrituion and hauled cattle for Hood Trucking. In 2008, he began working for Cornhusker Energy in Lexington, running boilers until January 2011 when his health would not allow him to continue.
Don had a special love for horses and all animals. Don loved kids and assisted with the Nebraska State Horse show for many years, where he met many friends that he valued for life. Don's most treasured time was spent with his family. He had a smile that everyone was fond of and he will be missed by all who knew him.
Don was active in the Dawson County 4-H program and served on the 4-H Foundation and Council. He served as a leader of the Knightriders 4-H Horse Club and was one of the original Horsefeathers 4-H Club members. He served as President on the 81R District School Board, was an active member of the Cozad Honor Guard and a member of the VFW.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and 2 grandsons, Jeffery Andrews and Colton Thayer.
Survivors are: wife; sons, Ben and Donnie, both of Cozad; daughters, Tracie Andrews of Kearney, Cassie Sundstrom of Maxwell and Eva Dawn of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brothers, Raymond of Farnam and Richard of Cozad; sister, Louise Hamar-Hintz of Yuma, Colo.; and four grandsons.
Burial with military honors was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery north of Cozad, NE.
Published in Kearney Hub on November 1, 2011
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