(Photo) (Veteran)

Don D. Stevens Sr., age 67, of Auburn, NE, passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2015, at his home in Auburn, NE. Funeral services were held Friday, October 2, at the Auburn Christian Church. Military rites were provided by the Navy Honor Guard and local legion following the service. A private family burial was at a later date.

Donald Delmar Stevens, son of John Henry Stevens and Frances Alma (Brand) Stevens Keller, was born on September 7, 1948, in Norfolk, NE. He was one of ten children.

Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school and was honorably discharged in 1969. He was united in marriage to Linda Chapin on November 7, 1969, in Blair, NE. To this marriage two children were born.

He worked as diesel mechanic all his life. From the 1970s to 1980s Don worked in Omaha for Trans Con and Roberts Dairy. He also worked as a machinist for Vickers Inc. for a short time. In 1982 while working for Herman Brothers a semi tire exploded and damaged Don’s back, permanently disabling him.

Due to ill health this last year Don entered hospice at home. It is there that on Tuesday, September 29, 2015, Don passed away. He had reached the age of 67 years and 22 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Howard and Delbert Stevens, parents-in-law Wilbur and Leatha Chapin, brothers-in-law Don Chapin Sr. and Herb Anderson, sister-in-law Pam Stevens and nephew Bobbie Lee Chapin.

He is survived by his wife Linda of Auburn, NE; children: Michelle and Mike Chowning of Brownville, NE, and Don (Del) Stevens Jr. of Auburn, NE; 12 grandchildren: Kelsey, Andrew, Ryan, Logan, Hailey and Ben Dixon, Cheyanna, Skyler and Ashton Chowning, Shelby, Jazmine and Katie Stevens; two great-grandchildren: Brooklyn and Karcyn Chowning; brothers and sisters: Leroy and Jane Stevens of Blair, NE; Stan and Cathy Stevens of Pembroke, ME; Noma Roesler of Blair, NE; Ina and Clark Cooper of Blair, NE; Monica and Roger Counts of Fremont, NE; Diana and Jeff Pleskac of Blair, NE; Beverly and Frank Coover of Fremont, NE; brothers and sisters-in-law: Katie Chapin of Nebraska City, NE; Jim and Joan Chapin of Omaha, NE; Barbara Anderson of Omaha, NE; Larry Chapin of Brownville, NE; Roger and Manna Chapin of Chapel Hill, NC; LaDonna Etherton of Lincoln, NE; Debra and Michael Glaser of Halsey, Oregon; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~