Donald D. Marco

Donald Dale Marco, 90 of Texas, “Sparky” lost a short but brave battle with cancer on September 20, 2018 at his Texas home. Many thanks to his Doctors, Encompass Hospice and especially to Audrey Glaser, who took care of him during his last days. Sparky passed from this world much as he lived, simply, peacefully, and surrounded by love. Sparky Marco will be long remembered for his kindness, his humor, his wonderful stories, and his ability to befriend anyone he met.

A Celebration of Life Service will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 17, 2018, at Apfel Funeral Home, 1123 W 2nd St, Grand Island, NE 68801 with a gathering of family and friends for a light lunch, pie and coffee (his favorite) and time of reminiscing and sharing stories about Sparky. Inurnment will be 10:00 AM Monday, November 19, 2018, at the Grand Island City Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the family for a memorial to the Pflugerville Senior Center.

Donald Dale Marco, better known as “Sparky Marco”, was born February 18, 1928 in Wolbach Nebraska the son of Lake and Vedia Oakley Marco. No one knows the origin of his nickname Sparky, but it may very well have been because of his spirit and spark for life. It was what he was known by for the better part of his 90 years.

Sparky attended Wolbach Public School, graduating in 1945. After High School, Sparky drove truck for farmers and businesses in the Wolbach area until he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1947. Sparky was very proud of his service to our country. He completed Basic Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio and then B-29 Engine Mechanic School in Biloxi Mississippi. Sparky was assigned to the 46th/72nd Reconnaissance Squadron at LADD AFB in Fairbanks Alaska as a B-29 mechanic. His squadron’s missions were highly classified until their release in 1998. He was honorably discharged in 1951 and returned to Nebraska.

Sparky married Norma Jean Pontious on January 11, 1953. Sparky and Norma enjoyed farm life, raising livestock and working with horses. They were active in the Bertrand Saddle Club for many years, going on trail rides and to horse shows. Sparky loved to camp and fish with the family. He could be counted on to catch enough for a fish fry. He raced stock cars for several years with brothers- in-law, George and Don. Upon strong suggestion from Norma, he retired Sparkplug #43 and took up much safer racing radio control cars with son his Tim. He also liked to pitch horse shoes and play cribbage with the guys at Tommy’s, especially enjoying the pie and coffee afterwards.

During his life, Sparky worked for several trucking companies, Omaha Steel, the Co-op elevator in Aurora and Bertrand, then as a welder at New Holland where he retired in 1990 and then from Skagway in 2011.

After Norma’s death in February 2014, Sparky moved to Pflugerville Texas with daughter Sherry and Audrey. While in Pflugerville, Sparky made many new friends playing dominoes at the Rec Center and playing bingo and dominoes at the Senior Center. He loved to take walks to the lake and stop to visit along the way with whoever had time for a story or two. He enjoyed working in the garden and the fact he didn’t have to scrape ice or scoop snow.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Sherry & Audrey of Pflugerville Tx, son Tim of Grand Island, Ne., three Granddaughters, Amanda & Travis Scarrow of Kearney Ne, Tara & Sean Fortune of Kearney Ne, and Cassandra & Philip Daniels of Parker Co. , eight Great grandchildren, Angela, Ahren, Allyson, & Aimee Scarrow, Sadie & Olivia Fortune, and Kaleb & Jonah Daniels, brothers, Jack & Hertha Marco of Bellview, Ne., Neil & Lou Marco of Millard Ne, sister, Carol & Oscar Johnson of Blair Ne. He will be greatly missed by his extended family and friends too numerous to mention.

Don, Sparky, Marco was preceeded in death by his wife of 62 years, Norma Marco.