Don "Big" Drtina

1962 - 2021

DON "BIG" DRTINA Alburnett Don "Big" Drtina, 59, of Alburnett, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Mercy Medical Center. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oc. 27, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, inurnment will follow at Alice Cemetery in rural Center Point. Don was born on July 17, 1962, the son of Arthur Sr. and Theola (Drake) Drtina. He was a 1981 graduate of Linn-Mar High School in Marion. Don went on to be a truck driver at Hill and Williams Trucking Co. in Marion, for the last 26 years. On May 9, 2015, Don was united in marriage to Gladys A. Nielsen, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Sons of the American Legion in Marion, and the Diamond Club in Alburnett. Big's passion was music, playing the guitar with his friends in The Ramblin Fever Band. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Don gave the gift of sight by being an eye donor. Don is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Gladys of Alburnett; sons, Dustin (Sheri) Drtina of Prairieburg and Brian Nielsen of Baltimore, Md.; daughters, Justine Drtina of Central City, Shannon (Travis) Hanf of Prairieburg and Holly (Andy) Williams of Alburnett; two granddaughters, Lola Meyer and Rian Williams; father, Arthur Drtina Sr. of rural Marion; sisters, Linda (Paul) Carpenter of Spokane, Wash., and Janel (Pat) Drtina of Palo; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Theola; brother, Arthur "Bud" Drtina Jr.; and sister, Deb Hills. Please share a memory of Don at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.