Donald Carson, 79, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Monday, March 30, 2009, at his home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at 11:00 AM at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Columbus, with Fr. Joe Miksch officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM vigil service at the Gass Haney Funeral Home. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until service time at the church. Interment will be in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Leigh, Nebraska, Wednesday afternoon. Memorials are to be directed to the church.

Donald E. Carson was born March 6, 1930, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Jay and Pauline (McCall) Carson. Don attended school in St. Joseph, Missouri before moving to Lincoln, Nebraska where he graduated from Cathedral High School. On June 25, 1948, Don entered the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on June 25, 1952. Don then attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated in 1957 with an Electrical Engineering degree. He went to work for Astronautics in San Diego and was involved with the building of the first ballistic missile "Atlas". In 1964, Don moved to Los Angeles and worked for the main contractor for the Apollo Project. Don eventually returned to school and received his MBA and went to work for N.P.P.D. He moved to Columbus in 1979 and was the Power Resources Planning Supervisor before retiring in 1992. Don enjoyed golfing and doing genealogy work.

Don is survived by:
Brother: Gerald Carson of Shreveport, LA
Sister: Mary Louise Carson of Westminster, CO
Sister: Elizabeth Ann Carson of Hemphill, TX
Sister: Bonnie (John) Snowdon of Rio Rancho, NM
Brother: James (Joan) Carson of Lincoln, NE
Sister: Kathleen (Michael) Summers of Martell, NE
13 Nieces
13 Nephews
21 Grand Nieces
29 Grand Nephews
13 Great Grand Nieces
11 Great Grand Nephews


Don was preceded in death by:
Parents; Jay & Pauline Carson
Sister: Patricia Carson
Brother: Joseph Carson




Funeral Service

Music
Darlene Ernesti - organist
Ed Cerny - soloist

Casket Bearers
James Carson Joe Chin Dr. Harry Carson
Sam Carson Mike Summers John Snowdon

Honorary Casket Bearers
Gerald Carson Dr. James M. Carson Patrick Carson
Michael Flowers Joel Epley Tim Owens
Jack Schwank Ron Asche Bob Busler
Roy Tonini Gene Trouba Loren Fraser
Chuck Athey Jim Murphy Bernie Friedrichsen
Leco Vela Pat Gerstenschlager Bob Irish Mathew Flowers