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08/25/2011 - Grace Donker
Funeral services for Grace Donker, age 79, of Chadron, Nebraska will be Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM at the First Congregational Church in Chadron with Dr. Russ Seger officiating.
A visitation will be Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at Chamberlain Chapel from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery.
A memorial has been established. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Grace Donker, 79 years of age, of Chadron, Nebraska, died early Saturday morning, August 20, 2011 at Prairie Pines Lodge in Chadron.
Grace was born on December 28, 1931 at the home of her parents, Dick and Anna Luurs outside Platte, South Dakota. She was born the fifth of eight children. Grace was raised on the South Dakota farm, attended school until she graduated from the eighth grade and was very proud to go back to school to complete her GED in 1972. When she was eighteen she took a job taking care of a couple in a small town not far from home.
While she was working for this elder couple, she met Albert (Rusty) Donker on a blind date with his best friends, Arlin Plooster and his sister, Noreen Donker-Plooster. Grace once said that she married Rusty because he was so much fun to be with. Rusty and Grace were married on January 29, 1952 and were married for almost 51 years before Rusty passed away. When they were first married they lived and worked on the Mile Head Ranch outside of Fairfax, South Dakota, right along the Missouri River. A few years later, they moved to Hot Springs, South Dakota where they bought a Mobil filling station and a few years later they took over the operation of the Standard Oil Bulk Fuel Company. In 1968, they moved their family to Chadron, Nebraska and bought the Culligan Soft Water Plant where they worked together to make it successful. They retired in 1998, but continued to help with the business for another couple years. To this union, there were born three boys – Jerry (Red) Donker, David (Dutch) Donker and Steven Donker and one girl – Nancy Donker – Eitler.
She was a longtime member of the First Congregational Church where she served as an officer for many years for the Ladies Aid groups. She was also a member of the BPO Does for many years and more recently she was an active member of the Eastern Star.
Her family was the most important part of her life and enjoyed family gatherings and activities that included church activities – she loved to have her entire family attend church with her at the holidays. She enjoyed family holiday meals.
Grace is survived by three of her four children, Nancy (Gary) Eitler, David (Karen) Donker and Steven (Dani) Donker and daughter-in-law, Teala (Jerry) Donker. She is preceded in death by her eldest child, Jerry and her husband, Rusty, who preceding her to her reward by 7 years. She is also preceded in death by her parents and three sisters and two brothers. She is survived by two brothers and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law and eleven grandchildren, two step grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren and two step great grandchildren.
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.
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