Longtime barkeeper Don Wetzel, 71, dies

Over the years, he operated the Rainbow Bar, the Little Nipper and the Tranquility Lounge.

By Betsie Freeman; World Herald Staff Writer

The Little Nipper bar on Park Avenue could have been Omaha’s version of “Cheers.”

Everybody knew your name. Don Wetzel fostered a family atmosphere, sponsoring picnics, Easter egg hunts and softball, golf and bowling teams.

And when Wetzel moved west to open the Tranquility Lounge at 120th and Fort Streets, his patrons followed him. He even had customers he jokingly called Norm after the popular “Cheers” character.

Wetzel reveled in the bar business. He retired in his early 50’s, but he maintained contact with people he met as a tavern proprietor long after he got out from behind the bar, said his daughter, Debby Perkins of Omaha.

Several of those cronies were at his bedside last week as Wetzel, 71, was dying. Lung cancer claimed his life Sunday at his Omaha home.

Wetzel attended North High School. He was a champion baseball player on an American Legion team out of Fort Calhoun. He met his future wife, Helen Campbell of Blair, at the field. They were married nearly 55 years when she died Dec. 30, also of lung cancer.

Don Wetzel worked for Union Pacific for 20 years and had a second job so he could purchase his first tavern, the Rainbow Bar at 25th and N Streets. He bought the Little Nipper in the early 1960s and moved to what is now Boondockers on Fort Street in 1981.

“He had the foresight to be one of the first by Kelley Field,” a softball facility, Perkins said. “He knew that would bring business in.”

Wetzel enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time at his cabin on the river.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include sons Mark and Sam, both of Omaha, six sisters, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Services were Wednesday at Roeder Mortuary.

Omaha World Herald 19 Jan 2004

WETZEL---Donald G., age 71, Omaha. Survived by sons and daughter-in-law, Mark and Judy Wetzel and Sam Wetzel; daughter, Debby Perkins; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; sisters, Faye Adams, Doris Root, Marcella Barber, Detta Helmsing, Phyllis Rist, Bonnie Gunderen. Preceded in death by wife, Helen.

FUNERAL SERVICE 10am Wed at Roeder Mortuary 108th St. Chapel. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery.

VISITATION with family 6-8 pm Tues at Mortuary.

ROEDER MORTUARY, 2727 North 108th St. 496-9000