Don E. Kearney

Don Kearney of Des Moines, Iowa and formerly of Kearney died Monday December 29, 2014 peacefully in his home. There will be a service to celebrate his life at 10:30 am on Monday, January 5th at the Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. The family will be available at 9 am to greet guests at the Funeral Home. The family will also be meeting with friends on Sunday, January 4th from 2-6 pm at the Ramada Inn banquet room. Inurnment of Ashes will be at Kearney Cemetery. Don was born on April 21, 1937 in Elm Creek, Nebraska to Ted and Ila Kearney. He was a proud graduate of Elm Creek High School and spent his career managing 37 banks in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Don served on the Kearney, Nebraska City Council for 16 years and was very proud of the growth that Kearney saw during his tenure on the council. Don married the love of his life, Colette (Coc) Murtha, on June 25, 1966 in Fairmont, Minnesota. They had two children, Patrick and Sean, both of Des Moines, Iowa. Don and Colette spent most of their marriage living in Ames, Iowa and Kearney, Nebraska. Don was a devoted caregiver to Colette in her final years as she struggled with Multiple Sclerosis. Colette passed away in January of 2012 and Don soon moved to Des Moines, Iowa to be closer to his sons and their families. He was preceded in death by his wife, Colette, and his parents Ted and Ila. He is survived by his sons Patrick and Sean, Patrick’s wife Cathy and his grandchildren Breanna, Brogan, Noah, Madilyn and Tyler. He is also survived by his sister Bonnie and his brother Bob. Don also had a great deal of affection for his many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Don Kearney was a banker, a city leader, a Cyclone fan, a closeted Cornhusker fan, and an Irishman. He was a father who loved his sons unconditionally; he was also a father-in-law, grandfather and brother who cared about family like few people do. Most importantly he was a husband who lived out his vows in a way that was incredibly powerful. He liked nothing less than a fuss being made over him. He really wasn’t a fan of flowers so his family is asking that people instead make donations to the Elm Creek Schools, with the intention of setting up a scholarship in Don’s name. Don was very proud of being from Elm Creek and his family would like to support the young people of the Elm Creek schools. Much of what he would have wanted said in his obituary can’t be printed here; his colorful language wasn’t always PG rated. He was an Irishman who had kissed the Blarney Stone three times so most of his stories were to be taken with a grain of salt anyway. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. PDF Printable Version

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Don E. Kearney

April 21, 1937 - December 29, 2014