Donald Eugene Lewandowski

Donald E. “Don” Lewandowski, 82, of Ashton, died Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Bryan Medical Center East in Lincoln.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ashton. The Rev. Richard L. Piontkowski will celebrate the Mass. The family requests that everyone dress in casual attire. Inurnment will be in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Ashton.

Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. parish rosary.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Memorials are suggested to the Ashton Fire Department, St. Francis Cemetery or to the Donor’s Choice.

Don was born on June 20, 1942, at Loup City, the son of Alfonzo and Alice (Woitalewicz) Lewandowski. He grew up on the family farm northwest of Ashton and attended Sherman County rural schools Districts #30 and #22 to the eighth grade and graduated from Ashton High School in 1959.

After graduation he began working in construction for Capitol Bridge and later for Bushman Construction Co. In 1962, he started farming and ranching, which he did until 2015.

He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Kusek on Nov. 9, 1968, at St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City. After his retirement in 2015, the couple continued to live on the farm, the rest of his life.

He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and Pheasants Forever.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, no-till farming, planting trees, managing his CRP land and raising his black angus cattle.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann of Ashton; son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Renae Lewandowski of Dannebrog; three grandchildren, Dominick, Jalee and Aspen; step-siblings and spouses, Marge and Ervan Dzingle of Loup City, Cindy Cottrell of Arizona, Tim Maiefski of Broken Bow, Tammy and Mark Smedra and Shelly and Opie Jurey, all of Kearney.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Rose Lewandowski; and step sister, Sue Maiefski.