Donald J. Getz

Donald J. Getz
June 29, 1931 – January 9, 2020

Like the lyrics of the song he loved to sing when given the chance, Don “Lived a life that’s full, traveled each and every highway, more, much more than this…I DID IT MY WAY!”

Don was a veteran of the Korean War, serving with the Military Police. He was a loving husband to Wilma, and father to four daughters: Cathy (Dan) Sand, Mary (Dan) Hoefer, Jeanine (Lee) Milne and Donna (Blair) Waite. He was stepfather to, Kevin (Deanna) Weir, Brian (Cheryl) Weir, and Stacey Weir. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Don began his career in the meat packing industry with Swift & Co by manning the elevator. He worked his way up to become one of their top mechanical and project engineers. He did this while going to school on the GI Bill and earning his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St Louis.

He later became a partner in Omeco St. John in Omaha. His expertise retrofitting new equipment into existing buildings gained him wide recognition and two industry patents.

He traveled widely, collaborating on plants in Russia, Taiwan, Denmark, Argentina, and Mexico.

He had the good fortune to collaborate with Temple Grandin, widely known for her innovative and humane handling of livestock and served as an expert witness on litigation involving injuries in meat packing plants.

Don enjoyed small craft sailing, entertaining family and friends, reading, and his passion, playing tennis into his eighties.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister. He is survived by his wife Wilma; daughters, Cathy Sand (Dan), Mary Hoefer (Dan), Jeanine Milne (Lee), and Donna Waite (Blaire); step-children, Kevin Weir (Deanna), Brian Weir (Cheryl), and Stacey Weir; 10 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends Thursday, January 16, 10-11am, with 11am SERVICE, all at West Center Chapel. INTERMENT: 2pm, Omaha National Cemetery with Military Honors by the US Army and Millard Am. Legion Post 374 & VFW Post 8334. In lieu of flowers, Memorials to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.