Donald P. Sullivan age 92 of Mullen, NE passed away June 8, 2023, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 10:30 AM MT at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mullen, NE with Father Matthew Nash celebrant. The service will be livestreamed at www.govierbrothers.com. Burial will be in the Cedarview Cemetery. A Rosary will take place on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 7:00 pm MT at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Mullen are in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com.
Donald Patrick Sullivan was born on April 29th, 1931, to David and Ann Sullivan. He was the 7th of 10 children. He had four brothers-Davis, Robert, Thomas, and Jerry and five sisters-Eleanor, Mary, Laura, Theresa and Rosalie. Don attended school in Cherry County and Mullen High School. His father died when he was 17 and he continued school part-time still managing to graduate as salutatorian of his class. After graduation, he continued to work alongside his mother at the family ranch. In addition to working on the ranch, he was also a mail carrier, learned the carpenter trade, and became a block layer/bricklayer, building and repairing buildings for people from Hyannis to Dunning. He loved raising and working with cattle, but his true love was his horses. He was involved in 4-H horse shows through his children and grandchildren and helped many others with high school rodeos. Many ranchers were helped in their early years by Don and when looking for someone to care for their own cattle, trusted him over anyone else.
Don also made four trips to Ireland and was awarded Irish citizenship in 2012.
Don married Virginia Boren in 1952 and they had four children, Dave, Mary Ann, Donalee and Dennis. In 1982, he married Sherron Clegg Cox and gained stepchildren Don, James and David Cox and Tom Reynolds. Don loved having family around, especially grandkids and great grandkids.
Don is survived by his wife Sherron; one sister Rosalie (Sid) Bullington of Ashby; children Dave (Catherine) Sullivan of Mullen, Mary Ann (Marv) Carlock of Wray, Colorado, Donalee (Bill) Barner of Mullen, and Dennis (Denise) Sullivan of Gering; step- children Don (Debbie) Cox of Mullen, James Cox of Fort Collins, Colorado, and David Cox of Centennial, Colorado and Tom (Deanna) Reynolds of South Ridge, New Zealand; grandchildren Patrick (Melissa) Sullivan and children Kaylen, Carter and Calvin of Omaha, Alana Sullivan of Omaha, Trevor (Kaylee) Barner and daughters Roarke and Ramsey of Lusk, Wyoming, Cami (Eddie) O’Brien and sons John and Sully of Omaha, Brodie Sullivan of North Platte, Zack (Erin) Cox and children Cort, Olivia, Luke, and Trent, Tristen Cox, Garrett Cox, Josh Cox all of Mullen, Will Cox of Fort Collins, Colorado, Lilly Cox of Laramie Wyoming, Gregory Reynolds of U.S. Army Ft. Rucker, Alabama and Christopher Reynolds of South Ridge, New Zealand as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.
The family hopes he will be remembered for his love of family, children, ranching, and horses, as well as his willingness to accept you just as you are and to help others, his teasing, and his love for a prank or two.