Donald Andersen

Donald R. Andersen, 84, of Hordville, left his earthly body on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at Litzenberg Memorial Long Term Care in Central City.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kronborg with Pastor Ricardo Riqueza officiating.  Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday, July 6th from 9 a.m. until service time.  Interment will be held at the St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Kronborg.
Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later time.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Donald was born to Margrete (Korsgaard) and Rudolf “Chicago Rudy” Andersen on July 22, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois.  The family of Margrete and Rudy included Donald, Richard, Diane and Roger.  During their time in Chicago, Don went to school but had difficulties with his hearing and did a year and some at a school for the deaf.  In 1948, Rudy took the family to the farm near Hordville when Rudy’s parents, Laura and Tunis Andersen decided to retire.  Don, his parents, siblings and the 4 girls grew up being a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, in which after his family was grown, Donald loved to do the readings and participate in the VBS skits that were done, as well as being a board member and helping out wherever he could.
Don and the others went to school in Hordville and when Richard was about 12, he suddenly passed in an accidental drowning on the farm.  After school Donald attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Grand View College in Des Moines.  He decided college wasn’t what he was interested in, and began working construction jobs, as well as driving 18 wheelers and other odd jobs before he met and married Lois Sweet in Kansas.
Lois and Donald completed their family with 4 girls, and moved to the family farm near Hordville after Donald’s parents moved to Marquette.  There Don and Lois started Don’s Repair and after 3 years they closed the doors and Don started at Bonnavilla Homes a manufacturing plant that makes mobile homes in Aurora.  Donald did all kinds of jobs at Bonnavilla, which included electrical, flooring, walls, plumbing, and more.  As his parents grew older and less able to take care of the farming, Donald took that on as well.  First, with the help of his dad, Rudy, and then with Lois, and the girls to help him.  Rudy and Don taught the girls how to drive the tractors, trucks, lay pipe, and all the joys and hard work that being a farmer brings.  After about 3 years Don could no longer manage both the farm and his full time job, and decided to rent the farm ground out.  Then in 2015, Don sold the farm ground.  This left more time for his joy of collecting different cars, tractors, motorcycles, and much more.  He always had his dream of restoring the many items he collected but time just wasn’t on his side while raising his family.  In 1991, Don retired from Bonnaville Homes after 32 years, 3 days, and 3 ½ hours.  He filled his days with doing odd and end things around the farm, going to dances, being a part of Parents without Partners, but he mostly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In early 2016, Don moved to Cottonwood Estates in Central City, then to Litzenberg Long Term Care in October of 2020.
Those left to mourn his loss but rejoice in his memory are Donald’s 4 girls, Carol Green of Buckeye, AZ, Wanda (Donald) Salmon of Central City, Tammy Andersen of David City, and Lia Smith of Holdrege, his brother; Roger Andersen of Aurora, 10 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren, as well as many family and friends near and far.
Donald was preceded in death by his two son-in-laws; Harvey Green, and Michael Smith, his sister; Diane Morgan, his parents; Margrete and Rudolf Andersen, a brother; Richard, a son who passed away at birth and Michelle, a little girl whom Donald never forgot.