Donald Gene “Don” Blecha

Don Blecha

OSMOND — Services for Donald Gene “Don” Blecha, 82, Osmond, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Feb. 17, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Osmond. Father Kevin Vogel will officiate along with Deacons Doug Tunink and Roger Polt.

Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Pierce.

Visitation will be Friday, from 4-7 p.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Osmond, followed by a prayer service and rosary.

Don was born Sept. 25, 1941, at the Pawnee City Hospital to Charlie and Julia (Vrtiska) Blecha, and died Feb. 11, 2024, in Osmond.

The family lived on a farm near Violet, until 1946, at which time they moved to Pawnee City and Don attended all grades at Pawnee City schools. Don was involved with 4-H, FFA, baseball, and basketball during high school. Some of his proudest achievements were earning Grand Champion Dairy Cow honors in 1958 and being the leading scorer on the basketball team his senior year. Don graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1959. After graduation, Don attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and completed his bachelor of science degree in wildlife management. He started employment at the Nebraska Game and Parks Office in the fisheries division, where he worked for three years. Don decided to return to college for one year to earn his teaching certificate, after which he then accepted a teaching position with Osmond Community Schools. When Don moved to Osmond in 1965, he met Bernice Herbolsheimer when renting the apartment below the Osmond Republican, where she worked. Don joined the Catholic Church in 1966, and married Bernice June 29 that year at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pierce. The couple rented a house until 1967, when they built their family home in Osmond. Don continued teaching at Osmond until 1970. Over the next 37 years he worked as a draftsman at Vulcraft, taught in Randolph, established his own construction company known as DGB Construction, was store manager at Osmond Farm Supply Hardware Store, worked at Lind-Gubbels, and returned to teaching in Plainview where he worked for 20 years until his retirement. During his various teaching assignments, he taught courses in vocational agriculture, science, industrial technology, computer-aided drafting, coached junior high girls’ sports, and served as senior class sponsor in Osmond and junior class sponsor in Plainview.

Outside of work, Don participated in many organizations and committees including, Pierce County Fair Board, Scout Master, Osmond City Park Board, Jaycees, Osmond Community Club, and Pierce County Weed Board. He was a member of St. Mary’s parish and collaborated with his wife and others to decorate the church for special occasions and holidays; served on St. Mary’s School Board and as communion minister; and occasionally assisted with repairs and maintenance of the church facilities. Although Don preferred to be an unsung contributor to celebrations and events, he was recognized for his commitment to community efforts as an Osmond Outstanding Citizen, Plainview Outstanding Teacher, Pierce County Fair Outstanding Member, and Aksarben Good Neighbor.

Survivors include his children, son and wife, Joseph and Debra (Braker) Blecha, Lenexa, Kan.; daughter and husband, LaDonna and Raymond Rowden, Sherman, Ill.; and son and wife, Terrence and Christine (Jaderston) Blecha, Rapid City, S.D.; seven grandchildren; brother, David Blecha of Waterloo, Iowa; and sister, Frances Taylor, Azle, Texas.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bernice; and granddaughter, Grace Blecha.