Donald H. Mahler

  Click here to view video tribute. Donald “Don” H. Mahler, 80, of Thurston, Nebraska passed away on Thursday, August 23, 2007 at the Pender Care Centre in Pender, NE. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender, Ne, with the Rev. Norman Nelson officiating. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender. Interment will be in the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Pender. Don was born on February 17, 1927 in Pender, Nebraska to Henry and Martha (Clausen) Mahler. He was baptized on February 22, 1927 at the Pender Hospital, and was confirmed at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender where he was a member all of his life. He graduated from Thurston High School in May of 1945. He served in the Army Air Force from August 21, 1945 until November 18 of 1946. After the service he worked as a farm laborer until 1952. From 1952 till 1955 he worked at a service station in Thurston. He married Lorraine D. Backstrom on January 18, 1953 at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield, Ne. From January until September of 1956 he worked at a service station in Fremont while building a service station and bulk plant in Thurston, Ne, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2003. While running the station he also worked part time for Blu-Jet Mfg., and Crop Production Service. In 2001 he was honored as the Pender-Thurston Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. He was a member of the Thurston Legion Post, #372 for 54 years, serving as Legion Commander in 1958. He was also Thurston Fire Department Fire Chief for 30 year. He served on the Thurston Village Board for 51 years, and was on the Thurston School Board, and drove bus for Thurston and later Pender-Thurston Schools for 13 years. He also served on the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Council for 6 years. He enjoyed playing softball, bowling and golf as well as going to his children and grandchildren’s sporting events in High School and College. He also loved Big-Red Football and Volleyball. Don is survived by his wife, Lorraine “Tippy”, daughter, Linda Pawling and her husband Tim of Fremont, Ne, son Jack Mahler and his wife Cyndy of Madison, Ne, and daughter Donna Hassler and her husband D.J. of Hubbard, Ne, grandchildren: Michelle Mahler of Wahoo, Ne and fiancé Wayne Lewis, Toni Rowland and her husband Dustin of Fort Carson, Co, Amanda Hegy and her husband Josh of Omaha, Ne, Angie Mahler also of Omaha, Melissa Pawling of Fremont, and Kim Hassler of Hubbard, great-grandchildren Isabella and Jared Rowland of Fort Carson, Co, and Camden Mahler of Omaha. He is also survived by a sister, Mila Tullberg of Elk Point, SD. Don was preceded in death by his parents, a twin brother, Delmar Mahler, a sister, Lois Fillipi, a brother, Robert Mahler, half-brothers, Alvin Schuldt and Rollin Schuldt, and a half-sister, Verna Bird.