Don J. Bausch

Our ambitious and dedicated dad and grandpa, Don Juan Bausch, entered his eternal home on December 24, 2021, at the age of 79. Don was born on January 19, 1942, to Oscar and Lillian (Sommerhalder) Bausch in Pawnee City, NE.

He was baptized in 1942, and confirmed in 1958, at Salem’s United Church rural Steinauer, Nebraska. Don was a very active member serving on several committees/boards and volunteered his time to help with many projects. Playing on the Salem Saints softball team as a young fellow was something Don truly enjoyed and talked about often. He was currently attending Faith Baptist Church in Pawnee City and always looked forward to his after church conversations.

In 1959, Don graduated from Pawnee High School. After high school he worked as a farm hand and then joined the United States Army from 1962-1965. Following his time in the Army he attended Peru State College and UNL. Don met his future wife Diane while going to Peru and they were later married on September 3, 1971, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church rural Falls City. A daughter, Amy, was born in 1974, and a son, Clark, was born in 1977.

Farming was what Don decided would be his lifetime occupation. He started out raising pigs for a few years. Then decided Holstein cows were his animal of choice and for the next 30 years together he and his family ran a dairy operation. He was very dedicated to the dairy even feeding the cows every night at 10:00. After quitting the dairy, Don raised beef cows because as he would say, “A person has to have something to do.”

Don was a man to voice his opinion, but not as a way to hurt people, just as a way for people to look at things in a different manner. He had a very sentimental heart that wasn’t always seen by others. When the weather was nice out he would often spend Sunday afternoons hitting his kids pop flies in the backyard which was always a special time for Amy and Clark. Other Sundays after attending church, Don would take his family roller skating and the kids were always amazed that their dad could roller skate. Don had a strong liking for ice cream and made sure he had a bowl every night after supper. Reading every single word of the local paper and reading farm magazines is what you would catch Don doing in the evenings. He was a generous blood donor, making sure he gave as often as allowed, giving 22 gallons in his 79 years. Serving on the Coop board is something Don did in his early years of farming.

Those left to mourn are daughter and son-in-law Amy and Chris Gottula of Burchard; son Clark Bausch of Kearney; grandchildren Isaac, Olivia, Madolyn, Emalyse, and Vanessa Gottula, Joakim, Abbigail, and Savannah Bausch; sisters Jeanette and husband Wayne Zimmerman and Nancy Tennant; brothers Charles Bausch, Jerry and wife Eileen Bausch, and Dean and wife Judy Bausch; brother-in-law Bob and wife Linda Kinghorn; other relatives and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Diane, his parents, and brothers-in-law Harold Tennant and Wayne Kinghorn.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022, 1:30 p.m., at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn, officiated by Revs. Ken Miller and Ken Tubbesing. Burial will follow in Sheridan Cemetery at Auburn. Graveside Military Honors will be provided by Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday, March 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6:00 to 7:00.

Memorials are suggested to family choice.