Donna Boeckenhauer

Donna Faye (Baier) Boeckenhauer, 91, of Wakefield, Nebraska passed away on April 19, 2023, at the Wakefield Health Care Center.  The visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023, at the Wakefield Presbyterian Church, in Wakefield, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.  The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at the Wakefield Presbyterian Church in Wakefield, with Pastor Charity Potter officiating.  Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Bressler-Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.

Donna was born on January 3, 1932, at her parent’s home south and west of Wayne to Adolph August Henry and Dora Henrietta (Meierdierks) Baier.   She was baptized by Rev. W.C. Heidenrich at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wayne. Donna attended District 57 rural school through 8^th grade.  She graduated from Wayne High School in 1949.   

Donna married Clarence “Bud” Boeckenhauer on March 11, 1950, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wayne with the Rev. J.H.M. Shiery officiating.    Following their marriage, Donna and Bud rented several farms in the Wakefield area before purchasing and moving to the home place northwest of town in 1964.  Following her marriage, she became a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Wakefield, where Donna served as a Sunday School teacher for many years and also as a church elder.  In years past, she was a member of the the Park Hill and Pleasant Dell neighborhood clubs northwest of town.  They moved to Wakefield in 1997.

Donna will be remembered for her cooking and baking, as relatives and friends alike were treated to meals and her homemade cookies, bread, and rolls when they visited.  She provided many pans of sweet rolls over the years for the Memorial Day Breakfast at her church.  She also helped her husband in the farming operation for many years, and was always available to run to town for a part or serve iced tea and a quick lunch for anyone working on the farm.

 Above all else, Donna had an interest in her family.  She was eager to know how things were going on the farm and curious about the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She cared about her extended family and family history as well, maintaining scrapbooks and collections of memorabilia about both the Boeckenhauer and Baier families.  Many relatives and friends received greetings from Donna on their birthdays and anniversaries because of her prized “perpetual calendar.”

Survivors include three sons, Roger (Sharon) Boeckenhauer of Concord, Keith (Julie) Boeckenhauer of Wakefield, and Tim Boeckenhauer of Hubbard; seven grandchildren, Rachel Boeckenhauer (Paul Cianchetti), Eric Boeckenhauer, Adam (Michelle) Boeckenhauer, Erin (Mat) Schaapveld, Brian Boeckenhauer, Leslie (Brian) Johnson, and Daniel (Denise) Boeckenhauer; 13 great-grandchildren; and several cousins, nephews, and nieces. 

Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, in 2000; her parents; sisters Edna Staver, Inez Baker, and Alta Meyer; granddaughter Mindy Boeckenhauer Spangler, grandson Dana Boeckenhauer; and daughters-in-law—Shirlene Boeckenhauer and Colleen Boeckenhauer.