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Donald D Wheatley, 88, of Eagle passed July 24, 2022. He was the seventh of nine children born to Viola (Burdick) and William Wheatley at home near Walton, Nebraska in August 1933.

Don married Mildred Hartman, his high school sweetheart, in May 1953, at the Palmyra Presbyterian Church shortly after her high school graduation. Don had to wait until after her graduation to make her his wife. Don took more responsibility on the family farm at 15 when his Dad passed away. Don loved farming the homesteads of both the Wheatleys and the Burdicks a couple miles apart. Don did odd jobs until his friend James Smith got him on at Burlington Northern Shops in Havelock, in addition to farming. Don always provided well for his family primarily by allowing Mildred to be at home with their children until most were on their own. Mildred always saw that he took an annual vacation as a break. Grandpa Don was famous for providing the farm experience, with horses, cows, pigs, donkeys, rams, and such. Don loved farm sales, motorcycles, polka/accordion music and helping friends and neighbors in need. He was an icon in the neighborhood on his 4 wheeler with his dog Rudy or Mildred on back. Mildred loved to travel and together Don and Mildred traveled to all 50 states. Highlights included the Panama Canal, motorcycle trips to South Dakota and Florida, Moostache Joe bus tours including Alaska and New York, taking their young family to Disneyland, and on train trips to Chicago and Denver and many other places.

Don is survived by his six children and spouses Janet Wheatley, Jodene & Greg Crawford, Don & Jolee Wheatley, Sharon & Russ Hintz, Rick & Ronda Wheatley, and Joyce & Greg Vogt; 19 grandchildren & 17 spouses Angela & Ben Modrell, Brandon & Vicky Desh, Anthony & Ashley Nisley, Melanie & Cody Nelson, Bev & Brad Pearson, Gwen Crawford, Aaron & Jerrica Wheatley, Heather & Justin Holub, Marissa & Justin McMahon, Ben & Baillie Kroese, Jodie & Matt Harstick, Josh & Amy Wheatley, Jeff & Amber Wheatley, Kristin & Danny Vela, Heath & Tifanie Vogt, Tyson & Cassie Vogt, Brent & Saranne Vogt, Jordan Vogt, Derick & Marissa Vogt; 37 great grandchildren Joslynn Modrell, Ella, Keely & Isaac Desh, Carter & Creed Nisley, Coy & Jace Nelson, Amelia Tersteeg, Brooke (Jared) Gillmore, Gerrit Pearson, Cody (Ellie) Pearson, Avery & Valerie Wheatley, Tonya Holub, Natalie & Makenzie McMahon, Evan & Sage Harstick, Grant & Macy Jo Wheatley, Gavin Trimble, Kailey, Dominic, Kane & Daxton Wheatley, Dylan & Devynn Vela, Payton, Taylor, Addelyn Vogt, Madden, Burke & Callan Vogt, Otto & Etta Vogt, Vera Vogt; 2 great great grandchildren Luna Trimble, Kaden Gillmore; siblings Marion Frymire, Karen Hartman (Eugene's wife), Earl Hartman, Phyllis Hartman (Karl's wife), Marlene Schroder, Kenny & Ruth Hartman, Ron Hartman, Donna & Larry Harshfield, and Daryl & Lyn Hartman; and many nieces and nephews.

Don is preceded in death by his wife of 68 yrs, Mildred; parents William & Viola (Burdick) Wheatley, and Karl & Margaret (Wieskamp) Hartman; siblings Bill Wheatley, Wilma & Eugene West, Larry & Jackie Wheatley, brother-in-law Dick Frymire, Ethel & Dale Dreeszen, Eugene Hartman, Dorothy & Melvin Kearn, Mitzie Hartman (Earl's wife), Karl Hartman Jr, Arnold Schroder (Marlene's husband) and grandson Jared Kroese.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am July 28, 2022, at the Palmyra Presbyterian Church with interment following at the Rosewood Cemetery followed by a lunch at the church. The service will be livestreamed on the Palmyra Presbyterian Church Facebook page.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Visitation will be held on July 27 from 4-8 pm with family greeting friends from 6-8 pm at the funeral home in Syracuse.

Arrangements By: Fusselman Allen Harvey Funeral Home, Syracuse, NE

Condolences to www.fusselmanallenharvey.com