SIOUX CITY -- Donald R. Taylor, 84, of Sioux City passed away Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Todd Thelen of Evangelical Free Church in Concord, Neb., officiating. Burial will be in Floyd Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:30 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to
www.christysmith.com
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Don was born Oct. 31, 1924, in Opportunity, Neb., to Columbus Jack and Daisey (Morgan) Taylor. He was always amused that he had a Halloween birthday. He was raised in the O'Neill, Neb., area, where he attended country school.
On April 19, 1952, he married Murna Scholz in O'Neill. They lived in Atkinson, Neb., York, Neb., Dakota City and moved to Sioux City in 1954, where he had resided ever since. He was a truck driver for various trucking firms in Nebraska and the Siouxland area. He received 19 years of safe driving awards.
He was a member of the Teamsters Union, the Bancroft (Neb.) Saddle Club and the Country Music Association in the Siouxland area. He liked tinkering with his tractors and small engines and for a short time, he raised sheep. He enjoyed staying current with political events. Recently, he was often seen with his four-legged companions, Benny and Desiree. He was a very caring man who always was willing to help out family and friends in need. He especially enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Murna of Sioux City; two daughters, Deborah Schlichting and Steve Hoffman of North Sioux City and Sharon and Jim Dahlquist of Monticello, Ill.; four grandchildren, Lisa Raasch, Lina Schlichting, Kristen and Brionna Dahlquist; five great-grandchildren, Jade, Amber and Cole Disney and Kailey and Jaina Raasch; a brother, Kenneth and Cheri Taylor of Renton, Wash.; and two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Taylor of York, Neb., and Mildred Taylor of Camas, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and a sister.