Donald "Don" J. Ference

Donald J. “Don” Ference, 86 of Loup City, NE died Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell, NE. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2020 at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. Father Richard Piontkowski will celebrate the mass. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City with military honors by the Loup City American Legion Post #48. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday at St. Josaphat’s with a Knights of Columbus Rosary to be held at 6:00 p.m. at the church.  All COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines will be followed with masks highly recommended at the Visitation, Vigil Service and Mass. The Rosary and Mass will be live streamed on the Higgins Funeral Home Facebook page.

Donald John Ference was born September 6, 1933 at Loup City, Nebraska to John Thomas and Anna Catherine (Lech) Ference. He grew up in Loup City where he attended school before returning to the farm.  He was drafted into the United States Army January 28, 1954 and Honorably discharged On January 27, 1956.  He was stationed at Angel Island near San Francisco, CA.  While stationed he met the love of his life Georgia Mae Felicia Connelly at a dance on base.  They were married February 2, 1957 at Holy Name Catholic Church in San Francisco.  They returned to Sherman County where he farmed until retirement. He was also employed at the Ordnance Plant near Grand Island, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Loup City, and Burlington Northern Railway for 22 years until retirement.  He was a member of St. Josaphat's Catholic Church.  He was a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #5455.  He was a Legionnaire at Post 48 in Loup City.   He was an avid sponsor of 4-H and FFA in Sherman and Valley Counties supporting his children and grandchildren. He loved spending time with family.   He enjoyed farming and working with livestock until his health declined.

He is survived by his children, Colleen (Dave) Gnewuch of Grand Island; Margaret (Fritz) Boersen of Grand Island; Steven (Berna) Ference of Gretna; Dennis Ference and special friend (Victoria) of Loup City; David (Christie) Ference of Ord; Michael Ference of Loup City; Alice (Luke) Benes of Valparaiso and William (Cindy) Ference of Loup City.  25 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren. Sisters; Evelyn Nabity, Camille Ference, Sr. Ann Ference and Delphine (Al) Cyr and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Mae Felicia Ference, father and mother and infant grandson Justin Boersen.