Donald A. Daubman

Please join us in celebrating Don's life.

A Memorial Service will be held at Morning Star Lutheran Church, 331 S 85th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, on Saturday, March 28 at 11:00 am with a luncheon at the church immediately following the memorial service.

Donald will be laid to rest in Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park during a private interment.

In lieu of flowers, please have memorials in Don’s name made to Morning Star Lutheran Church or charity of your choice.

Don was born on February 3, 1934, in Omaha, Nebraska to Edward Daubman and Nellie Bennett Daubman.He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edward Anthony Daubman and Nellie Marie Bennett Daubman; siblings Edward Daubman Jr., Betty Kulawik, Alan Daubman, George Daubman and Chuck Daubman.

Don is survived by his wife, Bonnie Daubman; sons Jay Daubman, Craig Daubman and daughter-in-law Deb Daubman; grandchildren Jordyn Swanson (Kyle), Samantha Warneke (Mallory) and Delani Daubman; great-grandchildren Ryker and Zoey Swanson; siblings Shirley Killian and Charlotte Erdman; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Don was born in Omaha, Nebraska and lived his entire life there, except for his years in the Army serving overseas. “Little Donnie” Daubman, a self-admitted short and quiet child, and his seven siblings were raised in South Omaha on 17th street between Castelar St. and Arbor St. With such a large family, Don recalled that nobody had their own room, everything was shared, and they made do with what they had. Don’s mother (Nellie Bennett Daubman) passed away at 37 years old when Don was 3 years old, and his father continued raising the children with help from the eldest siblings until his passing at age of 51 when Don was 19 years old. Don recalled that his father Edward was his role model, noting that he did not know how his dad was able to provide for and raise his children after losing his wife/Don’s mother. Don recalls that his dad provided lots of love and guidance and was strict when necessary to keep the kids from getting into too much trouble. Don worked a lot of different after school jobs while growing up, including delivering the Omaha World Herald newspaper, labor in a flour mill and packing houses. He graduated from Omaha South High School in 1951 at the age of 17 and enjoyed studying art, drafting and math, but not so much enjoyment studying English.

He attended college studying civil engineering while working part-time jobs until he was drafted into the Army at age of 22 in 1956. Don’s military service saw him serve overseas in Germany for a couple of years, thankfully during peacetime. During his overseas deployment, his friends in the Army often took weekend excursions to explore the areas of Europe around them, which instilled a joy for travel that lasted the rest of his life.

After his service in the Army, Don returned to Omaha and started his 30+ year career in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1960. Beginning as a Drafting Technician, his career path took him into Project Management and Contract Negotiations in the Contracting Division, ending up as a very well-liked and respected Chief of the Contracting Division until his retirement in 1994.

Don’s life in Omaha made him many friends that lasted a lifetime. He joined the Omaha Sports Club to participate in some of the bowling leagues and social events they offered.

He met his wife (Bonita “Bonnie” Berg) through a bowling league when he was 29 in 1963. A mixed group of his friends and her friends then had a gathering to view photos of some vacation trips each group had. After that meeting, he called Bonnie the next day to talk her into going on 3 dates during that initial conversation – AND SHE SAID YES! It was obviously a good three dates as they continued dating and married on April 3, 1965. Bonnie’s parents (John and Corinne Berg) became his new parents; they were much loved by Don. Don and Bonnie had many wonderful adventures, vacations to exotic locales for their honeymoon and many, many vacations elsewhere - Jamaica, Bermuda, St. John, Hawaii and Alaska to name just a few. Don and Bonnie often entertained family and friends, filling their house with merriment with the adults playing cards and conversing upstairs, while the kids played in the basement.

Don and Bonnie had two sons (Craig and Jay), and we think that they did a pretty good job of raising us. Donald Arthur Daubman (or DAD as we call him) did a great job of emulating his own father’s dedication to his family. He provided everything we ever needed, especially love, compassion and guidance, and discipline when needed – we did get out of line occasionally. The family life they provided us with is what we would now call an idyllic childhood with so many great memories of birthday and holiday gatherings with family, vacation trips, summer weekends spent at a family friend’s lake cabin, and too many other adventures to recount.

Don always liked having something to do, whether it be working in the yard or garden, maintenance around the house, refinishing woodwork, re-tiling floors, etc. Leading by example, he instilled this work ethic into his sons. He enjoyed decorating and putting up Christmas lights on the house and yard, being very meticulous with spacing of lights on the evergreen trees and shrubbery.

Don enjoyed bowling and golfing and was pretty good at both. He was active in golf and bowling leagues throughout his life and hated giving them up once he physically could not do them anymore after a broken ankle a few years ago. During the later years of his life, when he was not physically able to do all the things he used to do, he still did what he could and took up other pastimes like crossword puzzles and reading books.

Don had a strong and steady faith in God. He was an active member of Morning Star Lutheran Church as a member of the congregation, a leader in the Order of St. John for many years while his sons were active in the order and was often one of the ushers at the weekly services. He shared his faith in God and was a great example of how to live by the morals of his faith. We rejoice in knowing that Don has been welcomed home into Heaven by God and look forward to meeting again when we too take that next journey.

As we reflect on Don’s 92 years of life, we know that he was well loved and shared his own love to the greatest extent possible to all his family and friends. We are truly blessed to have known him and have had him in our life.