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Robert Donald Mauler was born on May 8, 1929 in Omaha, Ne.
He grew up in the Pleasanton area, graduating 8th grade in a country school.  He worked on the farm and for area farmers.
They moved to Kilgore Island in the late 40’s.  In 1949 he met Phyllis Erpelding at a youth dance.  They were married on January 27, 1951.  To this union were born 5 children; Douglas, Brenda, Nadine, Debra and Dawn.
Don was a member of the National Guard and was  drafted into the Marine Corp and received an  Honorable Medical discharge.  He worked at several area employers including Mueller Motors, Speak Motors, Nebraska Crib & Silo and was Service Manager for Montgomery Ward.  In 1963 he started working at Kearney State College as an electrician, where he worked for 29 years until retirement.  He was in Who’s Who in Nebraska in 1976-1977, was an admiral in the Nebraska Navy and a past member of the Buffalo Civil Defense.
He was a drummer in a local western band , “The Drifters”.
Don was mostly self-taught.  He learned to work on cars, mowers, electronics and anything else that needed fixing.
He loved to travel (visiting every state west of the Mississippi, including Alaska), Wisconsin, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting and did taxidermy.  He loved old country music, square dancing, trains, horses,  antique machinery and tools.
He was a long time (and life member) of the Platte Valley Antique Machinery Ass’n, Inc.. He was past president and did much of the electrical work and sound systems.  He enjoyed his time at the shows, sometimes displaying some of his collections and visiting.
In 1999 he finally had his dream of owning his own acreage.  He turned an alfalfa field into his pride and joy.
Don was diagnosed with colon cancer on April 1, 2008 and passed away July 5th, 2008.
He is survived by his wife of 57 ½ years; son Douglas, daughters; Brenda Towery  & her husband, Terry; Nadine Tillemans,, Debra Clinebell and Dawn Doughty & her husband Dan .  Special friend Lori Erickson.  12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; Brother Dale and his wife, Judy; sister-in-law, Louise Erpelding; sister-in-law Diana Wubbenhorst and her husband John.  Many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, four nephews and a son-in-law, Sam Clinebell.  Services were held at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney  with Father Tom Mulloney officiating.  Burial In Kearney Cemetery.  He was a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church of Kearney.
Memorials were given to Platte Valley Antique Machinery Ass’n. Inc., Axtell Fire Dept., Hospice, and  Prince of Peace Catholic Church.