Mr. Donald E. Larkowski

Donald E. Larkowski, 81, of Dannebrog died Monday, March 03, 2008 at the V.A. Medical Center in Grand Island.



Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The Reverend Harold Stromer will officiate. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. in the Nysted Cemetery, northwest of Dannebrog with military honors by the Mickelsen-Larkowski American Legion Post #241 of Dannebrog. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 4 - 8 p.m. at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.



Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.



Mr. Larkowski was born July 4, 1926 in Nysted to Stephen and Bessie (Jacobsen) Larkowski.



He attended schools in Nysted and Dannebrog. He graduated from Dannebrog High School in 1943. During his school years, he helped in his grandfather's gas station.



Before entering the service, Donald was baptized in the Lutheran Faith.



Donald entered the United States Army in 1944 and served in Stuttgart, Germany. He received his discharge in 1946.



He was united in marriage to Marilyn Chase on December 1, 1948 in Callaway.



Donald drove a bus and then worked in a mechanic shop in North Platte. Upon his return to Dannebrog, he started Dannebrog Plumbing. He received his masters electrician's license.



Donald was united in marriage to Alberta Elstermeier on November 23, 1972 in Axtell. He worked for Heil Construction and then Chief Construction where he worked for over 20 years, retiring in 1991. After retirement, he helped local farmers.



He enjoyed everything that he did, including woodworking and gardening and especially reading his Bible, which he did daily.



Donald was a past member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Grand Island. He was currently a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island where he served in different capacities in the church. He was also a member of the Stephen Ministries. Donald was a member of the Mickelsen-Larkowski American Legion Post # 241 of Dannebrog. He was a former member of the Lions and Eagle's Club. He was a current member of the Platt-Duetsche of Grand Island.



Survivors include his wife, Alberta of Dannebrog; six sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Ronda Larkowski of Thornton, CO, Allan and Regina Larkowski of Dannebrog, Thomas Lee Larkowski of New Mexico, Michael Kent and Barb Larkowski of O'Neill, Michael Reimers of Aurora and Thomas and Evelyn Reimers of Central City; three daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Donnie Simpson and Elizbeth and Dan Fivas, all of Utah, and Rhonda and Robert Evans of Central City; 27 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Gailord and Helen Larkowski of Forest Glade, TN, Gerald and Peg Larkowski of St. Louis, Rev. Lavern and Marilyn Larkowski of Omaha and Larry and Cheryl Larkowski of Ord; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris Leth of St. Paul, Nancy and Jim Darling of Kearney and Kathleen and Kirby Christensen of Ravenna and a sister-in-law, Diana Honore of Grand Island.



Donald was preceded in death by his parents; one son, John Larkowski; two granddaughters, Ashley and Amanda Reimers; one grandson, Jeremy Ridgebear; one brother, Dan Larkowski; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and Don Reimers and Linda and Rick Zurbura and a brother-in-law, Lyle Leth.