Don Gilbert Thober, of Lincoln, NE died on March 2, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 68 years old.
Don was born on July 8, 1950 in Beatrice, NE. He was the third of seven children of Kenneth & Ruth Thober, with three sisters and three brothers. He grew up on a farm near Beatrice and attended a one-room country school through 8th grade and graduated from Beatrice High School in the class of 1968. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in animal science and agricultural economics in 1972. He joined and served in the Army Reserves following graduation. Don briefly worked for a medical supply company in Lincoln before beginning his career in 1974 for the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, where he worked until his retirement in 2007.
While in college, he met Ann Hagan. They married on July 28, 1973 in Eddyville, NE. They had three children, Jody, Sarah, and Ben, whom they raised in Auburn, NE and later Norfolk, NE. In 2001, Don received a promotion to Assistant State Conservationist for Programs at the NRCS state office in Lincoln. Don & Ann moved to Lincoln and have resided there since that time. In those years, they have welcomed two sons-in-law & a daughter-in-law, and 10 grandchildren into their family. Don and Ann have always been active members of their church, currently St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Lincoln.
Don pursued many activities in his personal life: participating in Bible studies, spending time with his children and grandchildren, playing board games, volunteering as a tax preparer with AARP, gardening, woodworking, serving with the St. Mark’s Handyman’s group, researching genealogy, selling antiques on eBay, and spending time with extended family and friends. He gave the lifesaving gift of donating over 24 gallons of blood before his cancer diagnosis forced him to stop. Don & Ann enjoyed traveling and were able to visit all 50 states and traveled to Europe twice. He especially loved to hike in the mountains.
Don’s faith guided him through his life and was evident throughout his illness. Every day after his cancer diagnosis in July 2018, he said “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24). He loved his role as husband, father, and papa. His greatest joy was to know that his children and grandchildren shared that faith.
Don is survived by his wife, Ann, of Lincoln; daughter and son-in-law Jody and Craig Hanson, of Chaska, MN; daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Erik Bjornson, of Jordan, MN; son and daughter-in-law Ben and Carrie Thober, of Omaha, NE; grandchildren Ashlyn, Samuel, Emily, and Caleb Hanson, Hadley and Malia Bjornson, Jack, Owen, Eliza, and Emery Thober; mother-in-law Betty Hagan, of Lincoln; sisters Judy Barnard, Jeanette Thober, and Sharon (Bill) Kipf, and brother Brad, all of Beatrice; sister-in-law Ellie Thober of Papillion, NE, brothers- and sisters-in-law Ron and Judy Hagan, Janet and Bob Dyer, Lynn and Justy Hagan; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Robert Thober and Leslie Thober; father-in-law Lloyd Hagan; and brother-in-law Kent Barnard.
Celebration of Life service 11:30 a.m., Thursday (3-7-19) at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd, Lincoln, NE. Public Visitation with family greeting friends 5-7 p.m. Wednesday (3-6-19) at Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Dr., Lincoln, NE. Burial will be 9:30 a.m., Thursday at Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice, NE.
Memorial contributions may be directed towards St. Mark’s United Methodist Church or to the Heartland Cancer Foundation, www.heartlandcancerfoundation.org.