Donald Blocker

Donald Blocker, age 84, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on November 8, 2023.

He was born on September 9, 1939, to the late Victor and Arleta (Wilkins) Blocker in Omaha, Nebraska.

Don graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1957 and enlisted in the United States Army in 1958. He served for four years, stationed in Vicenza, Italy for two and one-half years before receiving an honorable discharge in 1961. He spent the next forty years with the Metropolitan Utilities District as a Claim Representative and Investigator until his retirement in 2001.

A doting husband to his beautiful wife, JoAnn, and devoted father to his three daughters Penny, Tracy, and Wendy, Don's family was his most prized possession. He loved them wholly and dedicated his life to caring for them. Countless friends and members of his extended family consider Don a surrogate father; he was generous with his love, compassion, wisdom, and time. He was a natural-born caregiver and a great source of strength for many.

Don enjoyed life's quieter moments, content to spend the afternoon watching an episode of "The Price is Right" or "Wheel of Fortune" with his dearly loved cat, Ila. He was a life-long animal lover and cared for them like family. He also enjoyed traveling the country with JoAnn, golf, bowling, playing cards, and being a handyman around the house. He loved sharing stories of his younger years, particularly from his military service, with his children and grandchildren. Most of all, he loved to make JoAnn happy.

Don lived in Tennessee with his daughter, Wendy, and son-in-law, Rudy, for the last three years. He was under hospice care for the past fifteen days.

In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn, and siblings, Henry, Larry, and Linda. Don is survived by his daughters, Penny Darnell (Pat), of CB, Tracy Bruun (Tom), of Ankeny IA and Wendy Scherzinger (Rudy), of Hurricane Mills TN; grandchildren: Jonathan Neal (Jessica) of CB, Nickole Cullen (Jacob) of NE, Derek Bruun (Carolyn Jennrich, fiancée) of IL, Shelby Bruun (Collin McElvain, Partner) of TX, McKenzie Scherzinger of TN, Bryan Darnell of Japan, Nolan Darnell (Maddie) of CB; brother Marvin Blocker (Sharon); seven great grandkids, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Friday, November 17, 2023.

Funeral Service will be held at 9:00 AM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Saturday, November 18, 2023. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to an animal shelter of your choice.