Don Hardy, son of Bert and Eva Hardy, was born in Mullen, Nebraska, on January 4, 1941, and passed away on April 29, 2023, at the age of 82 years. Funeral services are Thursday, May 4 at the Methodist Church in Broken Bow with burial in the Grand View Cemetery, at Anselmo. Visitation at Govier Brothers is May 3rd from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM with family greeting friends from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
Don attended rural schools in the Thedford area. Don attended high school in Anselmo and Thedford and graduated from Thomas County High School in 1959. Following graduation he attended Grand Island School of Business. Following this schooling he worked in Grand Island until he was drafted into the United States Army.
Upon his honorable discharge from the army, he worked for Lewis Brothers in Anselmo until he took a job at the Anselmo Elevator where he worked for twenty years.
Don married Sandra Smets in 1968. Don and Sandra were blessed with two children, H.J. and Allie.
In 1988 Don became a grain inspector for the state of Nebraska—a job he held for 23 years.
Don loved Nebraska Football, and Anselmo-Merna activities. He was a great community supporter. He served on the town board for several years. Don was so proud of the Veterans Wall in Anselmo. Don was especially proud of his military years of service, which included receiving a Quilt of Valor on June 30, 2021. He could be found every summer working in his garden, proudly displaying his massive pepper assortment and many rows of tomatoes. During the fall, Don would spend hours canning some of his favorite recipes. You always knew how much he loved you when he gifted you with some of his canned goods, especially his salsa.
Every Christmas Don lit up Anselmo with his beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. He always said his favorite part of decorating for Christmas was seeing the little children’s smiling faces.
Another love of Don’s was 4-H. After his two children were finished with 4-H, he was so happy to share his passion with his grandchildren. After spending the summer coaching his grandchildren, he was always found standing at the gate waiting to congratulate them as they walked out of the show ring.
Don was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He never put himself first—always looking out for the other person. Animals were a true love of his. He named all of his cows and could tell you a story about each one, but his true love was his faithful reclining napper, Muffy.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Wayne, Albert, and Frank, and a sister, Minnie Mary Hamilton.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Sandra Hardy, son HJ Hardy and wife Jennifer of Gretna, Nebraska, and daughter Allie Smith and husband Jayme of Brady, Nebraska, granddaughter Lauryn Hardy, grandsons Zachary Smith and Andrew Hardy, sister Reta Teahon of Halsey, Nebraska, and brother Bill Hardy and wife Diann of York, Nebraska and many nieces and nephews.
Your labor is done, your home now is heaven, no more must you wait,
Your legacy lives on, your love of the land, and—yes Dad, we will close the gate!!