Donald Eugene Bernhardt

Donald Eugene Bernhardt was born Jan. 9, 1938, in Ault, Colorado, to John Bernhardt Jr. and Mollie (Mitchell) Bernhardt.
Donnie (as he was known) grew up on a farm near Gill, Colorado, the youngest of four children, having two older sisters and one brother. In his youth, he was active in 4-H, showing cattle, and sports, baseball being his favorite. Donnie graduated from Gill High School in 1956.
On Dec. 2, 1957, Donnie was united in marriage to Betty Joann Williams at St. Paul Congregational Church in Greeley, Colorado. To this union, three children were born: Kerry, Kurt and Darcy.
Donnie and Joann farmed and made their home in the Gill area for many years. Donnie also assisted his brother, Johnnie, by driving trucks during sugar beet rehaul season from the rural beet dumps to one of the many processing factories in the area. In 1969, the sugar beet crop froze in the ground before the beets could be harvested and was a total loss.
After this, Donnie worked with Montfort of Colorado in their portion foods division where he quickly rose to the position of supervisor. He was responsible for buying meat for the Montfort company from other meat companies in the area to meet demand as well as selling the Montfort brand of meats to retailers and restaurants nationwide.
During this time, Donnie, Joann and their children were still farming on a small farm where they lived, but Donnie wanted to get back into farming full time.
In late December of 1975, Donnie quit is position at Montfort and in January of 1976, the family moved to Champion, Nebraska, where Donnie had rented land to farm in an area that had many opportunities for farming. He continued to farm with his sons until retiring in 2016. Donnie and Joann also had a trucking company, Triple B Commodities, which they operated for several years.
Donnie’s real passion was his love for polka music. With the help of a friend, Albert Holman, he learned to play the hammer dulcimer by sound. As luck would have it, Albert, needed a dulcimer player for a dance one evening and so Donnie became a part of the Albert Holman and the Polkatoons Band starting in 1968. He continued playing with the band until moving to Nebraska. He thoroughly enjoyed his time with the band and a lifelong friendship developed between Donnie, Albert and Albert’s son, Dennis.
Donnie’s greatest joys were his grandchildren. He truly enjoyed all of their activities in 4-H, FFA, school and athletics. Becoming a great-grandfather in 2020 was especially joyful for him.  
Donnie was a member of the Greeley, Colorado Moose Lodge, the Imperial Eagles, Farm Bureau and the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Greeley, Colorado. He loved to fish, play pool, bowl and talk to people whereever he went. He will be truly missed.
Donnie passed away Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at the Imperial Heights Assisted Living Center in Imperial. He was 83 years of age.
He was preceded in death his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Johnnie and Ruth Bernhardt; sisters and brothers-in-law: Lillian and Pat Trocolla and Bernice and Red Bettger; in-laws, Philip and Pauline Williams; brother-in-law, Kenny Williams; nephews: Terry Beasley, Mike Bernhardt, Jim Bettger and Mark Ketchem; and a niece, Rene Johnson.
Survivors Include his wife, Joann, of Imperial; sons: Kerry Bernhardt of Champion and Kurt (wife Kristi) Bernhardt of Lamar; daughter, Darcy Bernhardt and husband, Joe Mooney, of Ft. Myers, Florida; grandchildren: Preston Bernhardt, Alexa (husband Jeff) Banks, Austin Bernhardt and Ryan Bernhardt; great grandson, Cameron Banks; and many nieces, nephews and friends
Funeral services will be held, Thursday morning, Oct. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial with Pastor David Kahle officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 13 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial.
A memorial in Donnie’s memory has been suggested to the Chase County Community Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 819, Imperial, NE 69033.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com. Liewer Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.