Donald Lee Simpson

Donald Lee Simpson was born February 10, 1958 in Osceola, Nebraska to Merlin and Lois (Bailey) Simpson and died on December 23, 2023 in Overland Park, Kansas. He was baptized in the Stromsburg, NE Baptist Church where he became a member. Later he was a member of the First Christian Church of Hebron, NE and South Pointe Christian Church of Lincoln, NE. He attended Stromsburg Public Schools and graduated from Stromsburg High School in 1976, after which he joined the United States Army.

Don was honored to serve his country, serving on active duty from 1976 to 1979. During this time, Don was deployed to Manheim, Germany with the 3rd of the 8th Cavalry Squadron. After returning home, Don completed the ROTC program at Kearney State College where he became a commissioned officer in 1982. He served twenty years in the Nebraska Army National Guard, retiring as a Major in 1999.

Don attended Kearney State College, where he was a member of Beta Sigma Psi fraternity. After graduating in 1983 with a teaching degree, Don taught a variety of industrial technology classes for seventeen years at high schools in Hebron, North Platte, and Lincoln, Nebraska before retiring from teaching in 2018. Don worked for the University of Nebraska Husker athletic event staff from 2007 to 2020. In addition to a career in public service, Don served as a volunteer firefighter for fifteen years with the Hebron Volunteer Fire Department and served as an assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 305 from 1993 to 2004.

Don was passionate about Harley Davidson motorcycles; he was a member of the national Harley Owners Group, belonged to the Lincoln H.O.G, and was a member of the American Legion Riders Post 407 Kansas Chapter. He was a talented mechanic and craftsman and spent much of his free time working on projects for friends and family members.
He married Dianne (Kerwood) Simpson on May 21, 1983. Together they had two children: Dustin and Danielle.  Don cherished being with his family, so the couple moved to Lenexa, KS in 2021 to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his mother Lois and step-mother, Delores (Lindblade) Simpson.

He is survived by his father Merlin, Stromsburg, NE; wife Dianne, Lenexa, KS; son Dustin (Robin) Simpson, Lenexa, KS; daughter Danielle (Josh) Keller, Overland Park, KS; sisters Kathy (Tim) Campbell, Omaha, NE and Ann (Craig) Hardee,Topeka, KS; grandchildren Camden “CJ” Simpson, Lenexa, KS and Ryan Keller, Overland Park, KS; and many other relatives.

A graveside services will be held at Leavenworth National Cemetery on January 12, 2024 at 2:30 pm.

In remembrance of Don’s life, he requested any charitable donations be made to the American Legion Riders Post 407 Kansas Chapter, 9550 Pflumm Rd, Lenexa, KS 66215.