Donald R. 'Bud' Life

Hastings resident, Donald R. Bud Life, 86, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Hastings, NE. Services will be Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:30 am at the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, with Rev. Dr. Sam Rathod officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Hastings. Visitation will be Friday, April 26, 2013 from 4 pm to 8 pm with family present from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home in Hastings. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Memorials may be given to the family to establish a memorial at a later date. Donald was born December 15, 1926 in Broken Bow to Orla R. and Mayme (Connely) Life. He grew up in multiple towns including, Stapleton, Albion, and Arapahoe. He enlisted in the United States Army on May 8, 1945, and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged on December 22, 1946. Donald was united in marriage to Janice Lindholm on October 15, 1950 at Hastings, NE. The couple lived in Arapahoe before moving to Hastings in 1951. Donald worked at the Naval Ammunition Depot, owned and operated Dons Pastry Shop and then began working for the United States Postal Service in 1966. He retired in 1987. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hastings, the VFW, the Eagles, the United States Postal Union and helped initiate and was in charge of raising the flags on Memorial Day at Sunset Memorial Gardens for over 30 years. He is survived by his wife Janice of Hastings, two sons, Roger Life of Espanola, New Mexico and Rodney Life of New York City, three daughters, Kaye Hoffman of Hastings, Angie and husband Marc Kroger of York, and Sheri Life of Lincoln, grandchildren Lana Brazil of Arizona, Diana, Roy, Jason, Roland and Michael Life of New Mexico, and Jalen Kroger of York, 6 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews Sulene and David Prochaska, Donelle Williamson, Gena and Dave Marvin, Tony and Cathy Edmondson, Gene and Linda Life, Steve and Connie Life, Kim Gast and Cindy Powell, and a sister-in-law Dot Gast of Arnold. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ivan and his sister Teddi, and foster brothers, Tom Egan and Don Huffman.