Donald H. "Don" Chana

Donald "Don" H. Chana, 90, of St. Edward, NE passed away on Monday, July 7, 2025 at his home in St. Edward, NE. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Salem Lutheran Church rural St. Edward, NE with Jacquie Samway, PMA officiating. Interment will follow in the Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the services at church. Following the interment there will be lunch served in the church basement. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to S.M.I.L.E.S. Inc. which provides therapeutic horseback riding for special needs children and adults in Madison, NE. Miller-Levander Funeral Home of St. Edward, NE is in charge of arrangements. Donald "Don" Henry Chana was born on June 29, 1935, on a farm near Petersburg, NE the son of Perry and Edna (Leader) Chana. He was the third of six children. After high school he helped on the farm and at a ranch working with cattle. In 1956 he volunteered for the Army. He went to basic training at Fort Carson and was assigned to the tank battalion. He made lifelong relationships in the Army and met his future wife at an Army buddy's wedding. After two years in the Army and one year in the National Guard, he worked in Wisconsin for four years, he then returned to Nebraska to marry the love of his life. On June 22, 1963, Don was united in marriage to Mildred "Millie" Nelson at Salem Lutheran Church. He became a member of Salem Lutheran Church in 1963 where he was active in the church council and cemetery association. Don and Millie lived on the Nelson farm homestead from 1965-2017. With help from his father and brother, he built a log house on the land which, along with the nicely painted red barns, outbuildings, and circle drive with the American flag flying, made a picture-perfect homestead. In 2017, Don and Millie moved into town and enjoyed their home and new surroundings. Don worked at Behlen Manufacturing in Columbus, NE for 10 years, fitting in farming in the evenings and weekends. He then worked at the St. Edward Co-op for 15 years. Family and friends will remember Don's stories, jokes and his wonderful conversations. He was a reliable and hard-working man who had a talent for being able to fix and fabricate machinery/tools to make things work better. Don is survived by sisters: Jeanine Kennedy of Cedar Rapids, NE; Vivian Carnahan of Fremont, NE; Charlotte (Larry) Courtright of Santa Clarita, CA; sister-in-law: Zetha Nelson; special nieces: Joan Kunes; Lori Noble; Amy Wiechert; along with many other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife: Millie; sister: Maxine (Ted) Voichoski; brother: Merlin (Gaylene) Chana; sister-in-law: Dorothy Foreman; brothers-in-law: Carroll Kennedy; Norman Carnahan; Marvin Nelson; and nephews: David Voichoski; Jeff Chana; and Brad Courtright.