Memorials › Donald Joseph Nealon Sr

Donald Joseph Nealon Sr

3 Feb 1932 – 3 Jan 2015

Birth3 Feb 1932
Death3 Jan 2015
Added byGrady Higgins on 21 Feb 2020
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140964662

Bio

ST. LIBORY — Donald J. Nealon Sr., 82, of St. Libory died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at CHI Health St. Francis. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Libory's Catholic Church. The Rev. Sidney B. Bruggeman will officiate. To honor Mr. Nealon's wishes cremation has taken place. All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Nealon was born Feb. 3, 1932, on a farm in Greeley County, the son of Frank M. and Anna P. (Trella) Nealon. Survivors include his wife, Leah; three daughters, Deb Weber of Cairo, and Marie Smith and Michelle Sorem, both of Oregon; and two sons and a daughter-in-law, Donnie Jr. and Debbie Nealon of Brownsville, Ore., and Scott Anderson of St. Libory. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Brittany and Ashley Weber, Kimberly and Brad Archelta, D.J. III and Dawnita Nealon, Staci and Ben Barnes, Nic and Jamie Smith, Sharmin and Chad Welch, Dalton and Wyatt Anderson and Michael and Matthew Sorem. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael; a son-in-law, Chuck Weber; and five sisters, Peg, Marylou, Patti, Betty and Jeannette. Donald grew up in Greeley County and attended school at O'Connor, graduating in 1949. He served with the U.S. Naval Reserves from 1951 to 1954. In May of 1967 he married Leah (Nelson) Anderson. Donald moved to Grand Island in 1956, working for Color Craft Tile Co., as a truck mechanic for John Priest Trucking, and for Lammert Transfer until he opened his own shop on West Highway 30 in Grand Island. He then was shop foreman for GMC for several years. Donald then worked for many years for S&C Motors as shop foreman until suffering a heart attack which forced him into partial retirement in February 1993. Following retirement, he worked part time for several years. Donald and Leah moved to a farm near St. Libory in 1977. He joined the Hall County Sheriff's Posse in 1967, serving in several offices including board of operations. He was on the building and grounds committee that planned the first indoor arena at the Saddle Club, which was destroyed in 1980. He then helped plan and build the new arena. He was a member of the Hall County Reserve Officers Association for several years, and a 4-H leader for 21 years with the horse club. He raised, trained and competed with Appaloosa horses; raised and trained thoroughbred horses which he enjoyed very much; was a longtime member of the American Quarter Horse Association and served as ride coordinator for trail rides across Nebraska. He was a member of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association serving on the board for many years helping manage quarter horse shows across Nebraska. He was also member of the Illinois Ridge Riders and rode for 38 years. He helped organize the Pine Ridge Riders, riding with them for 20 years and South Dakota Rides for five years. Trail riding was a great love of Don's for many years. In 2007, he was appointed a member of the Howard County Tourism Committee.

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