Donna Rae Willoughby was born outside Gilden Iowa on her grandparents farm
January 19
,1931. She was the oldest daughter of E.C. and Faye Salisbury Willoughby. Donna had one sister Janice Lee (Willoughby) Carlson. Donna lived in several small Iowa communities until the beginning of World War II when the family moved to Bellevue Nebraska where she completed her freshman year of high school. During her sophomore year of high school the family moved to Omaha where she attended Technical High School. She graduated from Tech in 1949. During her senior year she met her future husband Daniel A Nicklen. They were married
August 27
, 1949 and remained married the rest of their lives. Their first son David Edward was born in 1951. Another son Daniel Jr arrived in 1954 and the family baby Darla was born in 1957. The family lived in Omaha until 1975. During that time Donna began working for Methodist Hospital as a Histotech. She retired in 1975 when she and Dan moved to Cedar Creek where they lived the rest of their lives.
She is survived by Daniel Junior and wife Carol Nicklen, of Atlanta, Georgia; Darla and husband Robert McDonald of Cedar Creek, NE, daughter-in-law Mary Nicklen of Omaha NE; 9 Grandchildren – Challen Nicklen and husband David Sobek, Cassandra Nicklen, Brian and wife Keri Nicklen, Sara and husband Nate Hammond, Kevin Nicklen, Tony and wife Kelly Hillabrand, Tiffany and husband Justin Peacock, Mark and wife Cassandra Hillabrand, Christy and husband Zachary Davis, 18 great grandchildren – Emily and Molly Sobek, Evelyn and William Nicklen, Brianna, Nellie and Lydia Hammond, Sydney, Brett, Danny and Hailey Hillabrand, Jacob and Charlee Peacock, Zachary, Katherine and Faith Hillabrand and Bria and Braylen Davis.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 11:00 AM First United Methodist Church, Louisville, Nebraska 222 Walnut Street, with lunch to follow. Private family burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery, will be later. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, Louisville.
Visitation Tuesday 1-9 with family present from 5-7. No viewing after 5 PM.
Condolences may be sent to fusselmanallenharvey.com
Fusselman Allen Harvey Funeral Home, 413 Elm Street, Louisville, NE 68037 402-234-3985
