Donald Melvin Liska, son of Edward A. and Eleanor (Mares) Liska, was born at Dwight on July 10, 1938, and passed away in Lincoln on Jan. 26, 2021, at the age of 82. Don attended grade school in the Dwight Public School and graduated from East Butler High School in Brainard in 1956. On Dec. 30, 1961, he was married to Mary Jo Hurt at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Lincoln. Two children were born to them, Linda and Brian.
Don’s career in telecommunications took him to do work for Stromberg Carlson Corporation in Rochester, New York, Pioneer Telephone Corporation in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and Great Plains Communications in Blair. He retired from Great Plains Communications in 2003, after working for them for 32 years.
Don enjoyed being out in nature. It thrilled him to see pheasants, rabbits, deer, geese and ducks while caring for the family’s land by Dwight. Throughout his life, he got to enjoy hunting, fishing and camping with his family. He also loved to travel. His career and travels took him and Mary Jo coast to coast throughout the United States and also to Canada and Mexico. They enjoyed many of the National Parks throughout the United States. Don was an avid sports fan, too, everything from basketball, football, baseball, bowling, softball and volleyball. While living in Bloomfield, he was a volunteer firefighter with the Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department for 16 years. Don was also a Third Degree Knights of Columbus member with an Honorary Life Membership. But, most of all, Don loved making many special memories by spending time with his family.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; brother, Eugene Liska, Sr. and his wife, Rose; brother-in-law, Richard Divis; sister-in-law, Adeline Kozisek and her husband, Frank; brother-in-law, Chuck Hurt and brother-in-law, Richard Hurt.
Survivors cherishing his memory include his wife of 59 years, Mary Jo Liska, Lincoln; daughter, Linda Liska, Seward; and son, Brian and wife Jannine Liska, Seward; granddaughters, Jennifer (Samuel) Kophamer, Lincoln, and Samantha Liska, Seward; sister, Jeanette Divis, Seward; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 2 at Assumption Catholic Church in Dwight. A private family inurnment will be at the church cemetery at a later time. In lieu of flowers, plants and statues, memorial contributions are suggested to the Liska family for future designations. Condolences may be left for the family at www.aspenaftercare.com.
