Donald J. McArthur

Donald J. McArthur, 63 of Ponca, NE, formerly of South Sioux City, NE passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at a Sioux City hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, April 26, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City, NE with Rev. Jerry Gilbreath officiating. Burial will be in the Salem Cemetery in rural Ponca with full military rites. Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 25, 2013, with the family present at 6:00 P.M. and a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE. Online condolences to the family may be posted at www.mohrfuneralhome.com.Don was born in Sioux City, IA on October 15, 1949, the son of Robert E. and Leona (Russell) McArthur. He graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1968. He married Vickie Petersen, the daughter of Dick and Duby Petersen, on October 16, 1970. Don was a Radioman in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Iceland during the Vietnam era. He was a sheet metal apprentice, became a journeyman and received his Master License in heating and plumbing. He was employed as Superintendent/Foreman at Haco Engineering, McArthur Sheet Metal, Interstate Mechanical, and other sheet metal shops in his career before starting his own business, Action Air, where he employed up to twenty-six people. He was in the HVAC trade through Local 3 for thirty-six years. Don found great joy in teaching the apprenticeship program and sharing his skills with his sons, who followed him in receiving their Master Licenses. He retired in January of 2012 to find his last home to build in the Black Hills.Don coached Little League baseball. He was a charter member of, and coached the South Sioux City Dolphins and was a cribbage tournament champion. He loved the outdoors, the Black Hills, which was a special area for him, snow mobiling with his kids, family trips and their Hawaii trips. He also enjoyed college sports and was a big Husker fan. He followed his grandson's four years of high school sports, traveling all over the Midwest to the Schools for the Deaf tournaments.Survivors include his wife, Vickie McArthur of rural Ponca, NE; sons, Shannon P. McArthur of Ponca, NE and Shawn R. & his wife, April (Mohr) McArthur of Lawton, IA; grandsons, Shannon T. McArthur, Jr. of Lake Manawa, IA and Matthew P. McArthur of Nebraska City, NE; 1 brother, Steve McArthur of Dakota Dunes, SD; several aunts, uncles, cousins, special in-laws, and numerous special nieces and nephews.Don was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Leona McArthur; two brothers, Michael and Jerry McArthur; and his Aunt Bullett.