Donald "Don" Warner

Hastings resident Donald D. “Don” Warner, 72, passed away Friday, June 4, 2021, at Bryan East Medical Center, Lincoln, NE.

Rosary will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Butler Volland Chapel. Memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 10, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hastings with Father Douglas Daro officiating. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. Wednesday with the family present 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Crosier Fathers and Brothers or St. Cecilia Catholic Church. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s Facebook page. The direct link for that page is www.facebook.com/lbvfh , the link will not be live until five minutes before service time.

Don was born September 2, 1948, in Scottsbluff, NE to Melvin J. & Mabel M. (Hickox) Warner. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1970 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Don married Mary Ann Pratt on November 30, 1968.

Don taught school at Ashland Public and then worked for Case Corp., Massey Fergusen, and was a business manager for Fairbanks/Titan. He was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree.

Don had never met a stranger in his entire life.  Those closest to him knew they could find him chatting with a new friend in line at the store, on the sideline of a grandchild’s sporting event or anywhere there were new people to meet.  Don was, in short, a collector. He collected new information on almost any topic. He would always be the last out of a museum or historical site as he read every placard, much to the sighs of his exasperated family. He was an intensely curious person with a passion for reading, history, and speaking with those around him about many topics that interested him at the time. Don had a passion for traveling and spent many years of retirement traveling the U.S. with Mary Ann, many times with a camper in tow. He traveled to fulfill a life-long dream of visiting all 50 State Capitols. He visited 43, including Alaska and Hawaii. If he was not traveling, Don could be found fishing or planning where to fish next. He shared his passion for fishing with his grandchildren. Don was always happiest with a fishing pole in hand, his dog Charlie under his feet, enjoying the quiet contemplation. Don was a devoted father and grandfather who beamed with pride whenever his children or many grandchildren were near. He was a kind-hearted man who always believed the good within others. His faith was strong and he looked to Jesus to lift him up even in his struggles.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Jerry Warner and Richard Warner.

SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Mary Ann Warner – Hastings, NE
Children & Spouses:
Gary & Hiroko Warner – Hastings, NE
Michele & Ron Kern – Atlanta, GA
Janet & Bob Matthies – Hastings, NE
Joan & Peter Fiveland – Bloomfield, NJ
Amy & Jeromy Doele – Lincoln, NE
Grandchildren:
Kento Warner
Kyto Warner
Lauren Matthies
Andrew Matthies
Jackson Doele
Poppy Doele
Gillian Fiveland
Matthew Fiveland
Sophia Kern
Sister:
Patricia Messner – Ft. Collins, CO
Sisters-in-law:
Barbara Warner – Omaha, NE
Elaine Rauch – Grand Island, NE
Many Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins