Donald E. Maulding

Funeral Service for Don Maulding, age 98, of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Nebraska with Rev. Ryan Janke officiating. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater. Burial will be in Clearwater Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by Clearwater Legion Post #267 and Sons of Legion. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater is handling the arrangements.

Memorial gifts will be directed to the Clearwater Cemetery.

Don Maulding passed at Homestead Assisted Living of Norfolk on Friday, May 8, 2026. 

Donald Elmer Maulding was born on July 6, 1927 in a farm home south of Clearwater, Nebraska. He was the older of two sons born to Elmer and Laura Frances (Filsinger) Maulding.

He graduated from Clearwater High School in 1944. Following graduation, Don farmed with his dad and worked on the Contois-McVay ranch south of O’Neill.

Don was drafted into military service at the close of World War II. He served in the United States Army from January 1946 to January 1947. He was stationed at Fort Lewis near Seattle, Washington, serving as a rifleman, squad leader, and mail clerk with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He attained the rank of corporal.

In the spring of 1947, Don went to work for the Contois brothers as an IH assembly person and parts man. Later he became a car salesman and manager at Contois Motor Company in Clearwater.

On June 12, 1949 Don married Bonnie Louise Kruger at Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater. They made their home in Clearwater and were the parents of two daughters, Marcy and Becky.

In 1960 the family moved to Kearney, NE, where Don was employed by Meston Motor Company as a parts man and car salesman. In 1963 the family moved to Millard, NE, and Don was employed by Industrial Loan and Investment Company in downtown Omaha. In November 1964, Don began 55 years of employment as a traveling sales representative for Central Supply and Rubber Company of Omaha. The family moved to Norfolk, NE, in 1965 to be located more centrally in his sales territory.

After Bonnie’s passing in 1988, Don married Betty (Tinsley) Kirchner on July 7, 1990. They made their home in Pierce, NE. They later divorced.

Don returned to his hometown of Clearwater in 2008. He retired from Central Supply and Rubber Company in November 2019 at the age of 92 after 55 years with the company. He moved to The Meadows Independent Living in Norfolk in May 2021, and then to Homestead Assisted Living of Norfolk in February 2023.

His Christian faith was an integral part of Don’s life. He was an active member of an LCMS Lutheran Church in each of the communities where he lived.

At various times over the years, Don enjoyed pheasant hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, pitching horseshoes, playing ping pong, Husker sports, playing pitch and gin rummy, bird watching, yodeling, and whistling a tune. He was fond of his two Brittany Spaniels, Kit and Jessie, and his parakeet. Don embraced the challenges of being a lefty, and celebrated Left-Handers Day every August 13th by eating the traditional strawberry sundae. He enjoyed making and giving batches of his delicious fudge to family and friends, and often times expressed his feelings by writing a poem for special occasions. Don had fun designing personalized keepsake pillows for each of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Family was extremely important to Don. He always made time for them and also stayed connected with his extended family throughout his life. He has been loved, admired and respected by his family and friends. He will be missed beyond measure!

Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife Bonnie (1988), parents Elmer (1983) and Laura (2004), brother Ray (1997), grandparents Sherman and Alice Maulding, Daniel and Ellen Filsinger, parents-in-law William, Sr. and Flora Kruger, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bill and Alys Kruger, Benny and Ruth Prater, Robert Kruger, Bill and Carol Timm.

Don is survived by two daughters and their husbands Marcy and Jeffrey Bakewell of Omaha, Becky and Gene Walter of Norfolk; grandchildren Jared and Leigh Bakewell, Jason and Christina Bakewell, Nathan and Geanne Walter, Annie Walter, Katelyn and Mathew Hinton, Meghan Walter; great-grandchildren Liv Bakewell, Elle Bakewell (daughters of Jared and Leigh), Ava Walter, Zoë Walter (daughters of Nathan and Geanne), Baby Hinton (Katelyn and Mathew) due in October; sister-in-law Marlene Maulding; nephews and niece Steven and Lorene Maulding, Mark and Deb Maulding, Jayne Maulding, and their families; brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Dorothea Kruger; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends; former wife Betty Kirchner-Maulding and her family.