Rev. Mr. Don L. French

Rev. Mr. Don French, 63, formerly of Walthill, Nebraska. passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa due to Parkinson disease. Services will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, June 12, 2010 at St Augustine Catholic Church in Winnebago, Nebraska, where he served as an ordained Deacon. Officiating will be Father Dave Korth and Father Mike Eckley. Burial will be in the Decatur Hillcrest City Cemetery in Decatur, Nebraska. Military rites will be conducted by the Winnebago American Legion Post 363. The Wake service started Thursday at the church and will continue until service time on Saturday. Viewing Friday at 5:30 P.M. with a Rosary at 6:30 P.M. and a Catholic Vigil Service at 7:00 P.M.Don was born on April 8, 1947 in Blair, Nebraska, the son of Clifford and Myrtle (Ball) French. He was raised on his family's farm near Decatur and Walthill, Nebraska. He graduated from Walthill High School in 1965, where he excelled in football and track. In April, 1966, along with a close friend, he served his country with a four (4) year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force, serving one (1) year in Vietnam. He was a graduate of Reisch School of Auctioneering and was a licensed real estate broker conducting real estate transactions and conducted and performed all types of personal property and household auctions in the Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota area.Don was united in marriage to Gloria "Jeannie" (Kemp) in 1971 and to that union was born two (2) children; a daughter Ursula of Homer, Nebraska and a son, Tino, of Sioux City, Iowa. Don and Jeannie resided in Walthill, Nebraska until 1999, when they moved to South Sioux City, Nebraska. Prior to becoming a realtor and auctioneer, Don served his community as a police officer and a volunteered in the Thurston County Sheriff's Department. He later became an employee of the First National Bank in Walthill, Nebraska, now called Charter West Bank. Later, he also owned, along with a brother, a nephew and a friend, the Horseshoe Lounge and Package Liquor in Walthill, Nebraska and the Jiffy Junction Convenience Store located on Highway 77 near Rosalie, Nebraska. Along with his grandsons, he owned and operated JD Kettlekorn; a kettle corn vending business until his health deteriorated. While residing in Walthill, Nebraska he was a very active supporter of the community. From 1974 to 1980, he organized, managed and coached a Junior Golden Gloves Boxing Team in Walthill, Nebraska, involving boys from 8 through 16 years of age. He was a member of the Walthill Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad for over 20 years, serving as the department's secretary for several years. He served over 8 years on the Village Board of Trustees, 7 years as a member of the Pender Community Hospital Board and donated countless hours of auctioneering to area organizations as fund raisers, to include the Dakota County Pheasants Forever Chapter and the Dakota-Thurston County 4-H Bonus Auctions. He was the Parade Chairman of Walthill's annual celebration for over 15 years. Prior to his ordination, he served his church as a Lector and an Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist. For all his civic involvement, he was presented the prestigious Siouxland Board of Realtors "Service Award" in 2000. He was a charter member of the Walthill Community Theatre, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars at Oakland and the Winnebago American Legion Post 363. His love and talent for acting landed him in numerous roles in commercials and cameo appearances on network television. He was very active in the Christians Encounter Christ Movement, giving several talks, prayer team, and kitchen team. He created numerous characters, including "Billy Bob" and "Mother Superior" for skits on CEC weekends.Survivors include his wife, Jeannie, his daughter, Ursula, his son, Tino and four grandsons; StanLee, Cody, and Jacob Maslonka and Christian French, six brothers; Larry of Decatur, Nebr., Doyle and his wife Margie of Walthill, Nebr., Kelly and his wife Bonnie of Lyons, Nebr., Gene and his wife Pam of Carroll, Nebr., Mike and his companion Mary of Bancroft, Nebr. and David and his wife Theresa of Ocala, Florida, twenty-three nieces and nephews, many great-great-great nieces and nephews and three step children, Haley and Tyler Wiggs and Ayden Warren and numerous friends and associates.Don was preceded in death by his parents, a nephew, Darrel French, a great nephew, Trey Wheeler and two sisters-in-law, Joanne French and Virgie French.Casketbearers will be Gene Loofe, Bill Engle Sr., Elvin Merritt, Kent Sauhau, Nate Merrick and Mike Murphy. Honorary Casketbearers are StanLee, Cody, Jacob Maslonka and Christian French.