Funeral services for Donald Dean Mars, age 69 of Taft, will be conducted Friday at 11 A.M.at Higgins Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Carter Hills Cemetery. Mr. Mars passed away Sunday night at his residence.
A native of Southerland, NE, he was the son of the late Harold Mars and Dorothy Dietz Duval. Mr. Mars was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U. S. Army, retired Systems Program Analyst and a member of the Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife Gerda Leistner Mars of Taft, son Robert James Oliver of Gulf Shores, AL, daughter Gerda Ann Monroe of Dallas, TX, brother Raymond H. (Sue) Mars of Brandon, MS, sister Judy (Dennis) Stunkel of Broken Bow, NE, sister-in-law Loretta Mars of St. Augustine, FL wife of his brother Neal Mars, who preceded him in death, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation with the Mars family will be Thursday evening 5-8 PM at Higgins Funeral Home.
21 Comments To "Donald Dean Mars"
#1 Comment By Donita Helton Huff On May 21, 2013 @ 3:12 pm
Gerda,
I worked with you both at Ohio Valley and am so sorry for your loss.. Sue is a good friend and I extend my sympathies to your entire family..
#2 Comment By Carmen Clark On May 21, 2013 @ 5:12 pm
Dear Gerda, Ann and Robert,
My thoughts and sympathy are with you at this sad time. Don was a remarkable person and a wonderful man . I will always remember the short times I got to visit with him and the hilarious stories he shared with me. He will be greatly missed.
Please convey my regards and best wishes to your family.
Love,
Carmen & Jimmy Clark
#3 Comment By Melissa Bowers On May 21, 2013 @ 5:48 pm
My deepest sympathies for the loss of your Dad.
Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mel
#4 Comment By Michelle Bowers On May 21, 2013 @ 10:03 pm
Annie I was so sorry to hear this news. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Should you need anything please call me. I will be there for you. Love and hugs…
#5 Comment By Kim (Kijjy) Tindal On May 21, 2013 @ 10:09 pm
I was very saddened to hear about Mr. Don’s passing, and grateful to have the memory of dinner at Cafe Grazie. There is nothing that can be put into words to make this time easier for you and your family but my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I know that he was very well loved and very well respected.
#6 Comment By Richard and Donna Jackson On May 22, 2013 @ 1:31 pm
Thanks for all the wonderful memories we shared in Germany you both were very special to us. We still share stories with friends about our travels/card games together. We sincerely extend our sympathy to you and the “kids”.
Dick and Donna
#7 Comment By Nilgun Sezgin On May 22, 2013 @ 2:44 pm
I worked with Don a short while before he retired from AAFES. He was a kind gentleman, always ready to help and always with a smile. My condolences to his family.
Nilgun.
#8 Comment By Carolyn Reneau On May 22, 2013 @ 4:00 pm
Gerda,
I am truly sorry to hear about Don’s passing. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
#9 Comment By Shereese Grissom On May 22, 2013 @ 4:27 pm
So sorry for your loss. God bless you and your family.
#10 Comment By David & Deb Twiford On May 22, 2013 @ 6:36 pm
Gerda, we are sorry to learn of Don’s passing. We fondly remember the great times we had with you and Don. He was fun to be around even though his dry humor made it difficult to tell if he was having fun, but just for a minute. Our prayers are with you and the children. Love, David & Deb
#11 Comment By Tim Monroe On May 22, 2013 @ 10:23 pm
Gerda,Ann,And Robert;
I’m so very sorry and sad at the unexpected loss of Don this week.He was the best Father-n-law anyone could ask for.Full of humor and ready to get in trouble with me at the drop of a hat.I swear he has left me with a million funny stories and for that I am truely grateful.He was the only man in my life that I could use his name and the word father in the same sentense and I couldn’t have had a better one.He will always be the “Pa” in the “MA&PA” to me.I am truely blessed to have known him.
All my Love ;
Tim
#12 Comment By Wayne Brumley On May 22, 2013 @ 10:40 pm
Gerda, My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Don was one of the small group who dragged this new employee out of his cubicle and made him take a coffe break. He also shared your wonderful raspberry cake and German cookies with his grateful collegues. It was interesting when he pulled my guide dog back from the tray and put his nose right in the pie rack where Petey promptly helped himself. Don is sorely missed.
#13 Comment By Christy Crow On May 23, 2013 @ 1:30 am
Ann and family, I just want you all to know I am so sorry for your loss. You all are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Don will be greatly missed, I am glad to have known him.
Christy Crow
#14 Comment By Karl Halder On May 23, 2013 @ 2:24 am
Gerda,
Both Don and I having the same birthday was like a special bond between us. Many memories of you both.
He will be missed.
Karl and Helen
#15 Comment By Fran McMahan On May 23, 2013 @ 6:12 am
Gerda and family, very sorry to hear of your loss.
I worked with Don for many years in the IT-D area for AAFES. Don was always smiling and ready to share a funny story. He was also very proud to be the bearer of your wonderful delicacies you would prepare for the IT-D parties & holiday celebrations we would all share at work.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours at this time. May Peace be yours at this time of sadness.
#16 Comment By Kelly Northcutt On May 23, 2013 @ 2:09 pm
Gerda and family, I’m so sorry to hear about Don’s passing.
I worked with Don for a few years when he was helping the Marketing Department for AAFES. Don was always sharing a funny story. We worked on the Desert Storm project. Getting laptops to the troops for ordering from over there. It was so great working with him on that project.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. May you have Peace at this sad time.
Kelly
#17 Comment By Tom Glicer On May 23, 2013 @ 2:25 pm
I worked with/for Don at AAFES and he was the best boss and co-worker that I had in my AAFES career. He was a good friend and a wonderful person. I have fond memories of our time together. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and family.
#18 Comment By Carol Adams On May 23, 2013 @ 4:04 pm
Dear Gerda and family. I am so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. We worked together in Dallas and he was such a pleasure to be around. My sympathies to you and all of Don’s family and friends.
#19 Comment By Al & Sandra Bruce On May 23, 2013 @ 4:41 pm
Gerda, Sandra and I are so very saddened to learn of Don’s passing. We have many wonderful memories of our shared adventures in Germany and Austria. We send our heartfelt condolences to you and your family and will keep you, Robert, and Ann in our thoughts and prayers.
#20 Comment By Jeffrey Persyn On May 23, 2013 @ 8:39 pm
I have fond memories of working with Tom for many years.
His contributions to AAFES information systems development helped keep AAFES serving its customers in the most cost efficient manner. He will be missed by many people.
#21 Comment By Mike Howard COO AAFES On May 29, 2013 @ 4:18 pm
We at the Exchange were saddened to hear of the passing of Don. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve. Keep the special memories close to your heart.