Donna Joyce Mather

Donna Joyce Mather

June 3, 1917 - Oct. 10, 2011

ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Donna Joyce Mather, 94, died Monday (Oct. 10, 2011), at the Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege, Nebraska.

She was born on June 30, 1917, in Gosper County, north of Holbrook, Nebraska to Clyde and Oma (Packwood) Vandruff.

She attended a one-room country school until 8th grade. She graduated from Arapahoe High School with the class of 1934 and went on Kearney State Normal School. She taught school at Broadwater, Nebraska for two years and then rural schools in Gosper County.

On May 31, 1941, she married James D. Mather. They moved to Wichita, Kansas where Jim was employed. They moved to Plattsmouth, Nebraska while her husband served in the Army Air Force. After his time in the service, he began teaching school, which led them to Franklin, Nebraska, Jamestown and Phillipsburg, Kansas, Wymore and Dannebrog, Nebraska and Sunrise, Wyoming, before returning to Arapahoe. She worked part time in Wagner's Supermarket and then for 10 years at Becton Dickinson in Holdrege, Nebraska. After retiring, she became director of the Arapahoe Senior Center.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women in Arapahoe, Nebraska.

She was preceded in death by her parent's, husband, James, infant daughter, Meridel, sister, Lois Peterson and brothers, Wayne and Dwight Vandruff.

Survivors include her sons, Jim and wife, Mary Mather of Oshkosh, Nebraska and Steve and wife, Julee Mather of Kearney, Nebraska; daughters, Lynn and husband, Wesley Musser of Laurel, Maryland, and Jeryl and husband Phil Hauptman of Lawrence, Kansas; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, at Arapahoe, Nebraska with Pastor Eldon Fablinger, officiating. Private family inurnment will be at a later date.

There will be no viewing and visitation.

Condolences and personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com

Wenburg Funeral Home, of Arapahoe, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.