Donald A. Liske, 76 of Greeley, died Monday, March 14, 2011, en route to the St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley with Father Sidney B. Bruggeman officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at Greeley. Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion Charles E. Martin Post #186. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the church with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Family’s Choice. T.J. Finn and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Donald August Liske was born March 26, 1934, at Greeley, Nebraska to Henry and Martha (Janssen) Liske. He attended Reed School #42 near Greeley. In 1953, he joined the Army and was stationed at Camp Chaffee, AK. After basic training he was stationed at Fort Brookee in San Antonio, TX and worked as a medic in the hospital. After his discharge in 1955, he worked for Davis Millwork in Columbus, NE.
On August 2, 1958, Don was united in marriage to Donna Lou Bishop at the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Fullerton, NE. Don farmed for one year near Fullerton before moving to Greeley County. He then worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads for 17 years. In 1983, Don and Donna purchased the Brick Palace in Greeley and ran this bar and restaurant until 1989. He then worked as a farmhand for Jim Dugan, Kenny Poss, and Joe Happ for 8 years.
Don was baptized and confirmed in the Scotia Zion Lutheran Church. In 1975, Don and Donna became members of the Greeley Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Don was an avid sports fan. He loved the Huskers, Dodgers and Green Bay Packers. He coached a ladies’ softball team, a town team fast-pitched baseball, and played slow-pitched softball for the Horace Outlaws and Greeley #1 softball teams. He lived for Tuesdays and Thursdays to play poker and Sundays to listen to his favorite polka music.
He was a member of the Greeley American Legion Charles E. Martin Post #186 and was commander for over 13 years. He was instrumental in getting the Veteran’s Memorial Wall built in Greeley County. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Donna of Greeley; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Marjorie McBride of Greeley, Darlene Albright of Grand Island and Arlene and Al Andreasen of Grand Island; a special sister, Sharon George of California; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold and Karen Liske of Omaha and Leo and Maxine Liske of Grand Island; brothers and sisters-in-law, Steve and Shirley Equall of Lincoln and Ron and Janett Bishop of Fullerton and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a half-sister, Elsie Polinski; three half-brothers, Raymond, Edmund and Elmer Liske and a brother-in-law, Earl Albright.
