April 26, 1943 – March 23, 2021
Born in David City, NE
Resided in Lincoln, NE
Donald G. Svoboda
Donald G. Svoboda, a devoted father of three, died on March 23, 2021, at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Born on April 26, 1943, in David City, Nebraska, Don was the youngest of Anton and Eva Svoboda’s six children, and brother to Marc, Al, Norman, Doris and Margery. A star athlete at St. Mary’s High School in David City, he played in the 1961 Shrine Bowl with Gale Sayers. Don was on stage in 2012 when the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame recognized the St. Mary’s football team as a “Dominant Dynasty.”
After high school, Don went to work with State Farm Insurance in Lincoln, where he built a four-decade career. There, he met Karen Torring, whom he married in 1966. They had three children: Brian, Wendy and Aaron. Don was a constant, encouraging presence in his children’s activities and development.
Funny, frank and wise, Don was a patient listener and a reliable source of common sense and good advice for his family, friends, and children’s friends. When he retired from State Farm, his colleagues remembered his stock phrase: “Acknowledge and move on.” During retirement, Don enjoyed the daily companionship of his friends over breakfast in northeast Lincoln.
Don’s lifetime love of sports found outlets through his children’s and grandchildren’s activities. He often went to the football games where his daughter, Wendy, worked as an athletic trainer in Texas, and where his son, Aaron, worked as a high school band director. He regularly traveled to Arlington, Virginia, to visit his son Brian’s family, and was an annual presence at his grandchildren’s school variety show.
Don is survived by his children, Brian, Wendy and Aaron; his sister, Doris Mocio of Fort Worth, Texas; his daughters-in-law, Sheila Smith of Arlington, Virginia, and Brittany Svoboda of New Orleans, Louisiana; and his grandchildren, John Svoboda and Katie Svoboda of Arlington, Virginia.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church at 7601 Vine Street in Lincoln.
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So very sad to hear of Don’s passing. We have a lot of wonderful memories and we send our prayers to Don’s family for healing and comfort.
My heartfelt thoughts are with you as you honor and remember your dad and grandpa. Here in Riverside, CA, I’ve arranged for a Mass to be said for him April 5th at my local parish, St Thomas the Apostle. Wishing you all peace and comfort.
We are very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. We became friends at SF in the office while Karen & I became friends on the course! Don was a great mentor thru the years & appreciated his always willing to listen about work & family. Blessings to his kids & their families now & forever.
💜Pam & Ed
Don was always someone that we could count on to provide wise advice. Don was one of the good guys at State Farm and was well respected. You always wanted to visit with Don when you visited the regional office.
Don and I both worked at State Farm, but not in the same departments. Having said that, Don was one person that almost everyone knew and respected—and appreciated on a personal but business level too. Our prayers and sympathies to his family in his loss.
Going to miss going to our early morning coffee which we did for years. Prayers to the family