Donald "Don" Gartner

Hastings resident Donald “Don” Gartner, 81, passed away Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village, Hastings, NE.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 20, at Butler Volland Chapel in Hastings with Pastor Willie Tryon officiating. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. with the family present 5-7 p.m. Friday, September 19, and one hour before the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the 4-H Rural Ranchers. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Don’s obituary and click the play button shown toward the bottom of the page. 

Don was born on August 19, 1944, in Hastings, NE, the son of Herman and Gladys (Fraser) Gartner. He graduated from Fairfield High School and went on to attend business college. Don served his country with honor in the National Guard and spent much of his life dedicated to farming — a vocation he took great pride in.

On June 3, 1983, Don married Suzanne E. Fischer. The couple shared over 40 years of marriage before Suzanne preceded him in death on June 18, 2024. A man of quiet strength and strong faith, Don was a past member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil. Don will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his work ethic, and his deep roots in the land and community he loved.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Suzanne; son, Todd Smith; and siblings, Ernst, John, Eleanor, and Norman.

SURVIVORS:
Children & Spouse:
    Scott & Virginia Smith – Hastings, NE
    Amy Smith – Hastings, NE
    Andrew Gartner – Hastings, NE
Grandchildren & Spouses:
    Anthony & Nesha Smith – Kearney, NE 
    Jamie Scarlet – Hastings, NE
    Tiffany Smith – Hastings, NE
    Michael & Samantha Smith – Rapid City, SD
    Jake Smith – Rapid City, SD
    Andrew Dawson – Hastings, NE
    Ethan Dawson – Hastings, NE
    Justin Dawson – Hastings, NE
Great-Grandchildren:
    9
Brother & Spouse:
    David & Helen Gartner – Lynchburg, VA