Donald J Conant

A Memorial Mass for Donald J. Conant will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orleans, Nebraska with Father Jamie Hottovy officiating.  Rosary will be held prior to the Mass on Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church.  Inurnment will be held following the services at the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery at Orleans with military rites conducted by the Harold Morin American Legion Post #184 of Orleans in conjunction with the United States Offutt Air Force Base Military Honor Guard.

Donald Julius Conant, 94 years of age, of Orleans, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, August 10, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society – Colonial Villa in Alma.  Donald was born on October 26, 1920 in Akron, Colorado, the sixth of twelve children born to Jared Fremont and Angela Marie (Ankle) Conant. He attended St. Mary's Parochial school in Orleans and then Orleans High School, graduating with the class of 1940.

On August 7, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Air Force, serving his country during World War II until his honorable discharge on November 25, 1945.

On October 23, 1942, Don was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Colgan at Wichita Falls, Texas and to this union three children were born:  Donald Jerome, Kenneth Leroy and Barbara Ann.  Following Don's military service the family made their home in Orleans, where Don was employed as an electrical lineman with Consumer Public Power, later known as Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) until his retirement in December of 1983.  Mary Ellen preceded him in death on January 11, 1999.  Don continued to reside in Orleans until he began to make his home at the Colonial Villa in Alma in December of 2010.

Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Harold Morin American Legion Post #184.

Besides his parents and wife, Mary Ellen, Don was preceded in death by one grandson, Scott Alan Conant; one daughter-in-law, Janet Conant; five brothers: Gerald, Willis, Walter, Glen and Richard Conant; five sisters: Marjorie Streff, Irene Godbout, Joann Hogeland, Peggy Brown and Mildred Schoneberg.

Don leaves to celebrate his life; his three children:  Jerome Conant and his friend, Christine Hocking of Cypress, Texas, Kenneth Conant and his wife, Lynda of Omaha, Nebraska, Barbara Wells and her husband, Kevin of Lincoln, Nebraska; four grandsons:  Chris Conant and his wife, Caren of Forney, Texas, Chad Conant and his wife, Marge of Spring, Texas, Blake Conant and his wife, Nohemy of Spring, Texas, and Zachary Wells and his friend, Erin Kruse of Lincoln; one great-grandson, Aaron Conant of Forney; one brother, Charles Conant of California; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation, as the family is honoring Don's wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Don's honor and will be designated at a later date.

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

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.