Donna M Silver

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Donna Silver will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones officiating.  Interment will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery.

Donna Marie (Lippstreu) Silver, 92 years of age, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Holdrege Memorial Homes, with her family by her side.  Donna was born on January 19, 1933, south of Wilcox, Nebraska in Franklin County, the youngest of four children born to Ferdinand and Emma Louise (Kahrs) Lippstreu.  She attended Sunny Plains country school, first through the sixth grade, it closed in 1944 and she then attended and graduated from Wilcox High School, with the class of 1950.

Following high school, she attended Kearney State Teachers College majoring in Business.  She then moved to Holdrege and worked at Dr. Peterson's clinic.  On May 9, 1954, she was united in marriage, at Pleasant View Christian Church, south of Wilcox, to George Silver of Funk, Nebraska.  They made their home North of Axtell until moving to the Silver family homestead, North of Funk in 1966.  Later in life, Donna worked at the Funk post office serving as the PMR (Postmaster in Reserve) for 25 years.

Donna loved music and she loved being in musicals during high school and singing at weddings.  She was a member of Emmaus Evangelical Free Church, North of Funk, teaching Bible school and Sunday School and serving in other various roles over the years.

She was known for her cooking and baking and always had a container of chocolate chip cookies in the freezer.    She was very artistic and loved making ceramics.  Some of her prized items were nativity sets, which she made for her family.   She also had a green thumb and neighbors were always remarking about her flower gardens on the corner where she lived.

She and George spent many a Saturday night at the Holdrege Elks Lodge, dancing and visiting with friends, and playing in their neighborhood card club.  They enjoyed attending their grandchildren's activities and sporting events and rarely missed one.  She and George were also avid Loper Basketball fans having season tickets for 25 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George; son Steve; great-grandson, Jacob Bartels; her parents; her siblings:  Doris Fries and husband, Dale; Lucille Marriner and husband, John "Red"; and Paul Lippstreu; two brothers-in-law: Gerald Silver; and Dale Silver and his wife, Shirley.

Donna is survived by her children: Nancy Bartels and husband, Dave of Franklin; and Jim Silver and wife, Sherri of Holdrege; grandchildren:  Michael Bartels (Jill) of Riverton; Craig Bartels (Brenna) of Riverton; Jaimee (Joe) Anderson of Holdrege; and Aimee Waltemath of Loomis; step-grandchildren:  April Campbell of Holdrege; Jamie Perkins (Eric) of Kenesaw; Ashley Popple (Casey) of Holdrege; and Dylan Campbell (Kelley) of Grand Island; Nineteen great-grandchildren;  two sisters-in-law: Laree Silver of Holdrege; and Sharon Lippstreu of Wilcox; along with nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and friends.

A visitation will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with family present 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

Memorials are suggested to:  The Funk Community Foundation or Holdrege Memorial Homes.

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.