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Date Posted: 2017-11-25
Maiden Name: Wickard

Donna Jean Marshall, 87, of Kearney, formerly of Elm Creek, died at her home on Nov. 8, 2017, surrounded by family.

Memorial services will be held Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church at 1623 Central Ave., Kearney, with the Rev. Doug Gahn officiating. Private burial will be at the Williamsburg Cemetery prior to the service.

Donna’s family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home, 4115 Ave. N, Kearney.

Donna was born near Sumner on July 29, 1930 to Joyce Clair and Lucille (Thornton) Wickard, as the fourth of five children. She attended grade school and high school in Sumner and Lexington, graduating in 1948.

She went to Kearney State Teachers college before marrying the love of her life, Eugene Marshall in 1950. Eugene and Donna lived and raised their three children, Penny, Candy, and Jeff, in the Platte River Valley south of Elm Creek until they moved to Kearney in 2014.

Donna worked at her dad’s business, Wickard Service, in Lexington from childhood until 1952. After marrying Eugene, Donna embraced her new life as the wife of a farmer and auctioneer. She worked at Eugene’s side – managing the books and accounts for the farming and livestock business; working as the Office Manager for the Kearney Livestock Commission Company; and helping create a thriving auction business serving as the bookkeeper, cashier, clerk, chief bill collector – and doing whatever else was needed!

Donna’s work extended beyond the family businesses to professional associations supporting auctioneers and livestock owners. She became an active member in the Nebraska Auctioneers Auxiliary – serving on the Board of Directors and numerous committees, writing for the “Power Behind the Gavel” columns, and attending every convention until her retirement. In 2003, she was inducted into the Nebraska Auctioneers Auxiliary Hall of Fame. She also helped clerk the Buffalo County 4-H Auctions and was recognized in 1997 for her outstanding dedication.

Donna proudly supported and was recognized for her contributions to the beef industry by serving on the National Live Stock and Meat Board and the Nebraska Beef Council. Donna was an early and committed volunteer to the Cattlemen’s Classic where she led the sale clerking teams for over 10 years. She was inducted into the Cattlemen’s Classic Hall of Fame in 2016.

Donna’s commitment to her community was unfailing. With Eugene, she was part of the heart and soul of the Williamsburg Community. Donna was a member of the Williamsburg United Methodist Church for 65 years. Donna served as treasurer for the Church and was a member of almost every committee at one time or another. She chaired the Lord’s Acre Celebration Auction from its beginning, wrote many book reviews for the Church’s monthly newsletter, and led a non-denominational Bible study group. Donna also served on the Williamsburg Cemetery Association Board.

But most important to her in her life were her three children and their families. Donna supported her children and grandchildren through years of endless 4-H projects, shows, demonstrations, and speeches – along with many high school music concerts, theater productions, sports activities, and proms and homecoming events. No matter how busy her working life, she never missed an important performance or event. Donna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She was loved and will be missed by many.

Her survivors include a sister, Helen Nickel; three children, Penny Buettner, Candy Marshall and husband Jerry Stehlik, and Jeff Marshall and wife Becky; seven grandchildren, David Buettner, Jonathan (Shawna) Buettner, Madeline and Will Stehlik, Lacy Donald; Hannah (Blake) Hild, and Leah (Gavin) Kenney; and four great-grandchildren, Marshall and Jaxon Donald, and Birkley and Alyia Buettner.

She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene in April of 2017, brothers Morris and Dean Wickard, sister Fannie Joan Wickard, and grandson T.J. Buettner.

Memorials are suggested to the Williamsburg United Methodist Church or the Williamsburg Cemetery Association. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com.