Donald V. Nietfeld

Donald V. Nietfeld, 85, of St. Libory, died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. The Rev. Craig K. Niemeier will officiate. Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Worms with graveside military honors by Burton-Beyer American Legion Post 120 of Palmer. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Nietfeld was born on Jan. 4, 1924, on the family farm southeast of St. Libory, the son of Ferdinand F. and Ida (Noffke) Nietfeld. He is survived by his wife, Esther A. Nietfeld of Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rev. Danny and Kathy Nietfeld of Bellevue, and Jim and Nelida Nietfeld of Aurora; three daughters and sons-in-law, Doneta and John Doehling of Omaha, Debra and Morris Weyers of Bethany, MO and Carol and Allen Spiehs of St. Libory; one brother and three sisters-in-law, Rev. Clayton and Lila Nietfeld of Greeley, CO, Loretta Langrehr of Grand Island and Margaret Nietfeld of Gulf Breeze, FL; and one sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Alan Hahn of Kearney. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Don was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church and attended Zion Lutheran Parochial School. He was united in marriage to Esther A. Scheer on June 23, 1944, at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. He was a World War II veteran having served in the United States Navy from July 26, 1944 until his discharge on March 19, 1946. The couple farmed and operated a dairy for many years north of Grand Island, and later returning to the family farm southeast of St. Libory. Don was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served in varied and numerous offices in the church and served as Sunday School Superintendent. He was also the cemetery sexton for many years. He was a member of Lutheran Laymen’s League and the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. He was also very proud of being a 20 gallon blood donor. Don enjoyed anything associated with trains and railroad depots and spending time with his family and friends. Don loved to visit! He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, LeRoy and Robert Nietfeld. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Sunday School or Lutheran Hour Ministries.