Donnel Lee Stelling

Obituary Donnel Lee Stelling

Kroll Funeral Home-Deshler

402-365-4441

Donnel Lee Stelling was born on March 10, 1929 near Deshler, Nebraska to Lawrence John Stelling and Irma Bertha (Ehlers) Stelling. He was baptized March 24, 1929 and confirmed June 10, 1945 in Peace Lutheran Church by Pastor Fred Schwerin. He passed away on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 in Hebron, NE at the age of 90 years.

Don graduated from Deshler High School on May 23, 1947. During high school he was employed part-time by local farmers, Freeman’s Market, Deshler Hotel, Deshler Rustler and Modern Appliance. Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on September 9, 1948 serving in England and Japan during the Korean Conflict as an aerial camera repair technician. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command and was honorably discharged on October 20, 1952.

On May 3, 1952, Don was united in marriage to Mary Ann Brettmann at Grace Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C. by Pastor Gerhard Lenski. Three children were born to this marriage. Don and Mary were married 66 years at the time of Mary’s passing on July 17, 2018.

Don worked on a variety of foreign and domestic aerial mapping projects for nearly 40 years. He was employed nine years with commercial mapping firms and the remainder of his career was with United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service (NRCS) as a supervisory cartographer. He worked at the Technical Service Centers located in Lincoln, NE; Hyattsville, MD; Portland, OR; and Ft. Worth, TX. Much of his career involved soil map publication for the National Cooperative Soil Survey. He retired in 1989 while living in Ft. Worth, TX and subsequently returned to Deshler. He went to work for Kroll Funeral Home, helping with funerals, driving the hearse, doing visitation and delivering notices for 20 years.

Don’s interests included photography, mechanical projects, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and spending time on the farm. In earlier years, he served on several church committees and was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Sunset Manor Board, Parkview Haven Nursing Home Board, Chamber of Commerce and American Legion Post 352.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary Ann Stelling, son David Lee Stelling, two infant granddaughters, step-father Emil Warneking, and brother-in-law Leo Koch.

Family members left to mourn his passing are his daughters, Donita and husband David Johnson of Bowie, MD, Denise and husband Patrick of Severn, MD; grandchildren Daniel Johnson of Bowie, MD, Brian and wife Stephanie Johnson of Melbourne, FL, Marianne and husband Steven De La Torre of Delray Beach, FL, Scott Bettinger of Hanover, MD, Eric Bettinger LTJG, USN, Portsmouth, NH, Shannon Bettinger of Milwaukee, WI and Sean Bettinger of Severn, MD; great-grandchildren Faith, Ryan, Emma and Noah Johnson of Melbourne, FL and Maverick De La Torre of Delray Beach, FL; sister Janet Koch of Ruskin, NE; nieces Barbara and husband Brad Brettmann of Lincoln, NE, Sue Greenwood of Lincoln, NE; nephew Richard and wife Cheryl Koch of Hebron, NE; half-sisters Phylis Hollamon-Berg and Ann Patterson, half-brother Larry Stelling and friends.

Funeral service will be Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Peace Lutheran Church in Deshler, NE at 10:30 AM. Officiant will be Pastor Dennis Reich, organist will be Julia Pohlmann, congregational hymns “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “Abide With Me”, and “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less”. Visitation will be Friday, October 25, 2019 from 2pm-7 with family greeting friends 5pm to 7pm. at Kroll Funeral Home in Deshler, NE. Casket bearers; Rich Koch, Brad Brettmann, Gary Brettmann, Steve Stelling, Brian Isernhagen, and Lyle Pitts. Memorials in care of family can be mailed to Denise Bettinger at 1423 Norcross Lane, Severn, MD 21144. Condolences may be left at www.krollfh.com. Burial will be in Deshler City Cemetery. Kroll Funeral Home of Deshler, NE is in charge of arrangements.

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