Donald B. Lanham

Funeral Services for Donald B. Lanham will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Buck Linton-Hendrick, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Donald Boyd Lanham, 84 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Don was born August 16, 1923 in his family home at Nora, Nebraska, the youngest of two children of Claude and Elizabeth (Robson) Lanham. Don received his education at Nora, graduating from Nora High School with the class of 1942. He then pursued higher education at Hastings College at Hastings, Nebraska for one semester before he was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps. Don served his country during WW II for three years, two of which he was stationed in Corsica, Italy and in Northern Italy.

Following his honorable discharge in the fall of 1945, Don returned home to Nebraska. On September 4, 1946 he was united in marriage to Louise Traylor and to this union four children were born: Linda, Stephen Wayne, Nancy and Thomas. Don continued his education at Hastings College, graduating with a degree in Accounting in 1949. The family made their home in Holdrege, where Don was employed as an Accountant / Service Manager for the local Buick Dealership until his retirement.

Don was a member of the First United Methodist Church for over fifty years, member of the local V.F.W. and American Legion Posts; Masonic Lodge; and gave over 17 gallons of blood to the Bloodmobile. His life was centered around his family, especially attending his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren's activities. He enjoyed camping, fishing, woodworking, had a special place in his heart for his dogs, enjoyed tending to his yard, loved to decorate his yard for Christmas and was an avid recycler.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Louise of Holdrege; two daughters: Linda Mews and her husband, Al of Inwood, Iowa and Nancy Grogan and her husband, Bob of North Platte, Nebraska; one son, Tom Lanham and his wife, Melanie of Holdrege; 13 grandchildren: Elizabeth Lemcke and her husband, Kevin, Laurie Politzer and her husband, Adam, Susan Mews, Albert Mews and his wife, Jayme, Paul Mews, Amy Mews, Cindy Mews, Lee Mews, Lisa Maupin, Jill Kennicutt and her husband, Scott, Andrew Maupin and his wife, Brandy, Rachel Wells and her husband, Ryan and Stephen B. Lanham; 12 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Stephen Wayne Lanham on September 19, 1974; sister, Ruth Crews and her husband, Richard; and brother-in-law, Tom Traylor.

Don will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later time.

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.