William Donovan

William “Bill” Donovan, age 82, of Omaha, Nebraska, formerly of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away  on October 24, 2024, at Heritage Pointe in Omaha.

Bill was born on December 15th, 1941, in Omaha to James and Alene (Wood) Donovan. He graduated high school from Grand Island Central Catholic in 1961. He served in the Army Reserves after high school while he worked in a grocery store and later a meat packing plant.

On April 27, 1968, Bill married Mary (Ondracek) Donovan at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley. They were blessed with four children: Jim, Margaret, Mary, and Kathleen. They made their home in Grand Island. They moved to Sargent, NE in 1979 where Bill fulfilled his dream of owning a grocery store: “Bill’s Jack and Jill”. The family moved to Oakland, NE in 1987 where Bill was the butcher in the local grocery store until he retired.

Bill had many loves including God, his family, attending his grandchildren’s activities, food, playing cards, and sports. He hosted a New Year’s Day football watching party every year where he combined three of these loves: food, family, and football. He loved attending and watching sports especially the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Creighton basketball, and the Minnesota Vikings.

He loved talking and laughing with people wherever he went but especially at family gatherings, at the grocery stores where he worked, while playing cards, and at one of his favorite social events: his son’s Labor Day ladder ball tournament/party.  He was often telling stories, joking, and laughing with people and is known for his signature laugh.

Bill is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, James “Jim” and Janet Donovan; daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret “Meg” Donovan, Mary Donovan Martello and Subby Martello, Kathleen and Clayton Carlin;  grandchildren, Bill Donovan, Alexandria (Cam) Dacanay, Lance (Karly) Donovan, Patrick Westby, Jacob Westby, Carsen Carlin, Julia Carlin, Clayton Carlin, Brady Carlin, Cole Carlin, Conner Carlin; great-grandchild, Boston Donovan; siblings, Carol (Larry) Schieffer, Bob (Jean) Donovan, Dan (Patty) Donovan, Marilyn Sonenberg, Dave Donovan, and Lisa (Joe) Kucera; brothers-in-law, Dave Maiefski and Dick Rech; sister-in-law, Betty Ondracek; many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Alene Donovan; wife, Mary; sister, Susan Maiefski; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ernest and Mary Ondracek; sister-in-law; Anne Rech; brothers-in-law, Jim Ondracek and Joe Ondracek.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley. Father Lawrence Vadakkan will be the Mass Celebrant. Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Family will greet friends on Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Husker attire is requested for the visitation.  Memorials are suggested to Golden Oaks Senior Center in Oakland, Nebraska, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyons, Nebraska, or the Alzheimer’s Association.  Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting Bill’s family.