Donald M. Robinette

 Donald M. Robinette, age 83 of Hartington, Nebraska died on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, SD.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, October 11, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington with the Rev. Owen Korte officiating. Burial of his cremated remains will be at the Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Nebraska with military honors by the Bloomfield VFW Post #4996 and the American Legion Post #249. Visitation will be held on Thursday, at church, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services on Friday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

Honorary pallbearers will be Don’s grandchildren, Dwayne Freeman, Leroy “Butch” Fischer, Jim Adams, John Brandow and Duane Arens.

 Donald Maurice was born on July 27, 1941 in Winnebago, NE to Mark Leroy and Martha Berniece (Breece) Robinette. He grew up in the Santee and Niobrara area, going to school in Marty, NE and graduating from Niobrara High School in Niobrara, NE in 1960. Don joined the U.S. Army in 1961 and served for four years as an ammunition specialist. Don dated Fran Van Houten before he left for the Army and then married Frances “Fran” Kay Van Houten on June 2, 1962 in Niobrara. Fran joined Don at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where they lived for two years. After his honorable discharge, Don and Fran lived in Niobrara for a short time before moving to Hartington. Don worked for Neu Cheese Company for many years before working for Bauer Electric in Yankton, SD. Don belonged to the Local 231 electrical Union in Sioux City, Iowa for 50 years retiring in 2004.

 Don was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, loved fishing by Niobrara, Gavins Point Dam and Buckskin Lake. He enjoyed his trips to the Casino, the Fryn’ Pan, chocolate shakes, and eagle watching.

 Don is survived by his daughter Brenda (Dean) Dowling of Hartington; seven grandchildren - Alexandrea (Timothy) Evans – their children Willa & Landry of Crofton, Whitney (Caleb) Miller & children William, Amelia, & Thatcher of O’Neill, Charles Dowling of Hartington, Andrew Dowling of West Hollywood, CA, Bradley Dowling & Friend Darien Forinash of Yankton, SD, Jessica (Ayden) Churchwell – their children Tessa, Aria of Yankton, SD, Alexander Dowling of Hartington; two sisters Linda (Doug) Bolte of Norfolk, Marketta Reynolds of Seattle, WA; brother Rick (Joann) Robinette of Norfolk; numerous nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law Sandy Robinette of Gatesville, TX, Cheryl Robinette of Page, NE, Ann Robinette of Wisconsin, Donna Van Houten of Sioux Falls, SD, Debra Robinette of Norfolk, NE; brother-in-law Maurice Becker of Yankton, SD.

 He was preceded in death by his parents Mark and Berniece Robinette, wife Fran on 2-11-2016 at the age of 76 years; four children Paul, Bradley, Heather, and Nicole; numerous siblings, nieces and nephews.