- Date Of Birth: February 2, 1927
- Date Of Death: February 11, 2018
- State: Nebraska
Donna Maurine Wacker (of Edgar, NE), the daughter of Philip Norman and Lona Irene (Black) Underwood was born February 2, 1927, on the family farm near Otego Kansas in Jewell County. She passed away peacefully on February 11, 2018 at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings, NE, at the age of 91 years of age due to complications from Alzheimer’s.
Donna was baptized, as an infant, at the Otego Methodist Church and confirmed as a young adult in the Mankato Harmony Methodist Church. She attended elementary school in Otego, and graduated from Mankato, KS with the class if 1945. After graduation, she attended Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas where she completed Teacher Training.
Upon completion of her training, she accepted a teaching position in 1946, where she taught grades 1st through 8th at Mount Zion Rural School near Esbon, KS. After teaching at Esbon, she taught at Ionia and Montrose Public Schools. While attending Kansas Wesleyan, she met her future husband Lorenz William Frederick Wacker.
Lorenz and Donna M. Underwood were united in marriage on August 14, 1949 at the Methodist Church in Burr Oak Kansas. They enjoyed 57 years of marriage. This union was blessed with the birth of three children, a son David and daughters Linda and Martha.
Larry and Donna’s first home was in Courtland, KS where he managed the Maher Grain Elevator and Donna substitute taught in the public school. Donna and Larry moved to Edgar, NE in 1958. Throughout the years, Donna enjoyed being active in the community. Donna was employed by Oakwood Manor, as a cook, the Church of the Plains, as secretary, and Sandy Creek Public Schools. She began her employment with Sandy Creek as a cook at the high school, however, she will be remembered for the 26 years she spent in the Edgar Elementary Library.
Donna was a member of the Church of the Plains, where she volunteered and served as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday school superintendent, choir member and Vice moderator of the Presbyterian Women. She was also a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Donna’s greatest joy was raising her children and actively supporting them in their education. Donna often said her hobby was being with children. Story time in the library, baking and sharing cookies with neighbors, and being with her family were her most beloved times.
She is preceded in death by her husband Lorenz (Larry) of 57 years, parents Philip and Lona Underwood. Sister and brother-in-law Ardell and James Calder; brother and sister-in-law Norman Dwight and Lorena Underwood; brother Warren Underwood.
Left to cherish her memory are her children and spouses: David Wacker Sr. and Polly; Linda and Micheal Nuss, and Martha Wacker; Grandchildren: Andrea Davenport, Stacy and Rustin Riley, Natalie and Derek Meyers and David Wacker, Jr.; Great grandchildren: Samuel, Alexis and Jonathan Davenport, Mason, Carter, and Everhett Riley, and Darin Meyers. Sister’s in law Donna Allen Underwood and Carol Nash Underwood. Special friend and caregiver Carol Appleby, caregivers Ellie Clark and Dennis Nevin. And a host of relatives and friends.
Edgar, Nebraska
