DONALD E. BADER
Mass of Christian burial for Donald Eugene Bader, 61, of Lexington, was Friday, Feb. 22. 2002, at the St. Ann's Catholic Church in Lexington, with Reverend Don Buhrman officiating. Burial was is the Robb Cemetery at Lexington.
He died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney after a 3-year battle with cancer.
He was born Easter Sunday, March 24, 1940, at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings to Leo Earl and Helen (Van Buskirk) Bader. He attended the Congregational Church and all his early education in Doniphan, graduating from Doniphan High School in 1957.
Don married Margaret Waldman at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Sargent on Dec. 28, 1964. He graduated from Kearney State College in 1965 and started his teaching career in Bridgeport. He taught American History and coached all sports. In 1967, they moved to Lexington, where he taught American History and coached cross country and track until he retired in 2000.
He was proud of his four state championship teams - girls cross country in 1981 and 1989, and boys track in 1974 and 1988, being elected to the Nebraska Coaches Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team for 1973-1974 in 1998, The Level II Career Milestone in Cross Country, the Level IV Career Milestone in Track in 1999, the Bennie and Dutch Memorial Award in 2001 for Meritorious Service to Track in Nebraska presented by the Nebraska Coaches Association, State Outstanding Teacher of American History from the Daughters of American Revolution in 2000, and the Champion for Children from the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and KRVN in 1999. He was mostly proud when people told him that when they took his students and athletes on road trips they were respectful teenagers who represented their school and town with pride and courtesy.
He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church, the National Education Association, the State Historical Society and the Dawson County Historical Society.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret of Johnson Lake; two sons, Thomas James of Comstock and Gerald John (Michelle) of Golden, Colo.; two granddaughters, Madison Brooke Bader and Lauren Grace Bader of Golden, Colo.; and his mother, Helen Carlson of Doniphan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leo Earl Bader, his stepfather, Wayne Carlso,; and an infant brother, Richard.
Memorials are suggested to the Lexington High School Washington D.C. Senior Trip Scholarship Fund or the Lexington Athletic Booster Club.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.