Daniel E. O'Connell, Sr.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Daniel E. "Danny" O'Connell, Sr. will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Murray Jones officiating. A luncheon will follow.

A Memorial Book Signing will be held one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, with the family greeting.

Memorials in Danny's honor are kindly encouraged to the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

Daniel Everett O'Connell, Sr. was born on March 14, 1945, to Dan and Betty (DeBusk) O'Connell in Fairbury, Nebraska. When he was young, his family moved to a farm north of Holdrege. Danny attended Wise School and R-6 during his elementary years, and later Holdrege High School.

In high school, he was involved in many activities, including football, basketball, track and field, baseball, student council, and chorus. He also played a lead role in the play, The King and I. He graduated with the Class of 1963.

On November 15, 1963, Danny married Carol Ingram. He attended Kearney State College before enrolling in a technical school in Denver for Industrial Arts. He later worked as a draftsman for several companies including Samsonite Luggage, Sunstrand Aviation, and Rockwell Valves. Ultimately, his true passion was farming, which he began in 1968.

Throughout the years, Danny was active in the National Corn Growers Association, served on the R-6 School Board, and was involved in the Water Users Association. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He, Carol, and their kids took many ski trips to Colorado with close family friends.

After retiring, Danny loved spending time outdoors, driving grain trucks for neighboring farmers, and being a grandpa to his four grandchildren. One of his greatest joys was spending time with them, and he rarely missed their activities. Any friends of his grandchildren were quickly "adopted" as his own.

Danny had a wonderful sense of humor, and his family cherishes countless memories of laughter shared with him. He continued to be an adored grandpa to his great-grandchildren and was always ready to play with them when they visited.

Danny was preceded in death by his parents, Dan O'Connell and Betty (DeBusk) O'Connell; his father-in-law, Finn Ingram; and his nephew, Kenny Waller.

He leaves to celebrate his life his loving wife of 61 years, Carol O'Connell; his sister, Karen Waller; his brother, Mike O'Connell (wife JoAnn); his son, Danny Jr. O'Connell; his daughter, Christi Anderson (husband Kyle); his grandchildren: Ashley O'Connell, Dalton O'Connell (wife Miranda), Rachel Hagedorn (husband Trevor), and Matt Anderson (wife Maggie); and his great-grandchildren: Johnny, Whitley, Aullie, Laken, Huntley, Nora, Jack, and Lucy. He is also survived by his nephews: Tim Waller, David Waller, Nathan O'Connell, and Lanny Muhsmann; his nieces: Jenni Treadway and Adri Muhsmann; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.

~~~

Close The Gate

For this one farmer the worries are over,

Lie down and rest your head,

Your time has been and struggles enough,

Put the tractor in the shed.

Years were not easy, many downright hard,

But your faith in God transcended,

Put away your tools and sleep in peace.

The fences have all been mended.

You raised a fine family, worked the land well

and always followed the Son,

Hang up your shovel inside of the barn;

Your work here on earth is done.

A faith few possess led your journey through life,

Often a jagged and stony way.

The sun is setting, the cattle are all bedded,

and here now is the end of your day.

Your love of God's soil has passed on to your kin;

The stories flow like fine wine,

Wash off your work boots in the puddle left by blessed rain one final time.

You always believed that the good Lord would provide

and He always had somehow,

Take off your gloves and put them down,

Not more sweat and worry for you now.

Your labor is done, your home now is heaven;

No more must you wait,

Your legacy lives on, your love of the land, and we will close the gate.