Doris Ann Banister

Just one look from Doris and you knew you might have been in trouble but that you were also loved. The heart of our family, Doris Ann Banister, was born July 13th, 1934 in Crete, Nebraska and passed November 1st, 2021 at Lincoln, Nebraska.

Doris was born in Crete, Nebraska, the oldest child of Grace and Ernest Ahlschwede. She graduated from Crete High School where she had played trombone in the band. She encouraged and supported music for all three of her children

Doris attended the University of Nebraska as an English major. Her education came in handy while helping her children with spelling, composition and editing countless term papers, most of which she also typed despite the sometimes illegible handwriting of the authors. Her secretarial skills helped her land jobs at Cotner Investments and later as a secretary at Grace United Methodist Church. She was good at keeping track of important dates. If you didn’t get a card from Doris, it probably wasn’t your birthday.

Doris met the love of her life while roller skating at Capitol Beach, he thought the future love of his life could save him 25 cents because she owned her own skates. So on November 13th of 1955 she married that thrifty guy, Jim Banister, to whom she bore three children, Curtis, Susan and John. Doris and Jim shared many things such as their involvement in the Starcraft Eastern Star Chapter where she held many stations, the United Methodist Church, long trips on their motorcycle, and roller skating with friends in Omaha and Bellevue.

Preceding her in death are her parents and sisters Helen Plucknett (Allen) and Hazel Peterson (David), Alice Ahlschwede, sister-in-law Marylin Ahlschwede, sister-in-law Doretta Ellis (Jack).

Doris is survived by her husband, James C Banister, son Curtis Banister, daughter Susan Banister, son John Banister (Karla), brother Robert Ahlschwede, Nashville, TN, sister-in-law Marilyn Russell (Charles), Roseville, CA, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren, and Woody the corgi.

She is also survived by a man made better, the sounds of a trombone, sewing skills that became a business and the understanding of what unconditional love really means. In the end she couldn’t remember our names due to the ravages of Alzheimer’s, but she knew she loved us. We loved you too.

A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 11:00 am, at St. Paul United Methodist Church. 1144 M St, Lincoln, NE. Interment will be at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery at 1:45pm. 6700 S. 14th St, Lincoln, NE. Please meet at Gate 2, 15 minutes prior.

Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.