Growing up in Crawford, he attended school at Belmont, NE through 10th grade before transferring to Crawford, NE to complete his high school education. This proved to be a wonderful move as, due to the distance between the Reynoldson homestead and Crawford, Don boarded with a family in town who had a daughter still living at home, DeLila. She would become the love of his life!
After graduating high school, Don worked on the family farm/ranch operation before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in September, 1950. Following his basic training in Wichita Falls, Texas, he was sent to California for a crash course in maintenance and repair of the new F-47 aircraft. He completed his service as a jet mechanic instructor in Amarillo, TX until his discharge in September, 1954. Don served proudly in the military while making many lifelong friends. He and DeLila attended several reunions with his Air Force “family”.
On August 26, 1951, Don married his high school sweetheart, DeLila Siekert. They welcomed their daughter, Sue Anne on December 9, 1952. After completing his Air Force service, they returned to the family homestead near Crawford, NE where Don and DeLila continued with the family farm/ranch operation. On August 16, 1955, Don and DeLila welcomed their son, Robert Lee. On the family homestead, one of Don’s favorite things to do was take on remodeling projects and build custom cabinetry. This became a hobby he enjoyed for the rest of his life.
Although they loved life in Crawford, Don and DeLila wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren. In 1995, they completed building their dream home in Lincoln and made the move. True to form, Don and DeLila made many new and loyal friends that they treasured.
Don and DeLila felt lucky to have so many special people in their lives including their childhood friends, Dean and Yvonne Bass and Arlee and Betty Phillips. Many weekends were spent with the Bass family playing cards, boating and general fun. With the Phillips’s, they enjoyed numerous trips getting lost or seeking out new adventures in a variety of locations. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Don was a “people person” finding something interesting in most people he encountered and those who encountered him would often count themselves lucky as well. But he hated to say good-bye. As friends or family departed, he would frequently say “Good luck to you” or “Glad you got to see me”.
After DeLila was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Don lovingly became her chief caregiver. He was devoted to her until her death in June, 2018.
Don is survived by his children Sue and Bob (Cheryl); grandchildren Jill (Mark Smith), Amy Bartels (Zach), Erin (fiance Colin Heinrich) and Matt Reynoldson; great grandchildren Austin, Jackson, Bennett and Georgia Bartels, Rachel and JD Smith; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Don was preceded in death by his wife DeLila; parents; brother (Dale) and lifelong friends Dean and Yvonne Bass.
Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Friday, April 1, 2022 at Roper and Sons South Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Dr. (40th and Yankee Hill), Lincoln, NE 68516.
The family would like to thank our wonderful caregivers from Legacy Home Care, Partners in Care, and Tabitha Hospice.
Memorials to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Lincoln, NE or Crawford Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Crawford,NE.