Darrell D. Conway

Darrell D. Conway, 86, of Elba, died on Sunday, February 27, 2022, at the Grand Island Regional Medical Center.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul. The family is requesting casual attire or Husker attire in honor of Darrell.  A Private Family Committal Service will be held in the Elba Cemetery. 

Visitation will be from 4-7 P.M. on Friday, March 4, 2022, at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Elba EMT & Fire Department, Elba Community Club, St. Paul American Legion Club Post 119, or the St. Paul Library.

Darrell was born on November 9, 1935, in Silver Creek, Nebraska to Earl & Dorothy (Suck) Conway. He was raised in the central Nebraska area, receiving his elementary education in Silver Creek and Grand Island. Following his graduation from Elba High School in 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1954 until his retirement in 1975. While in the service, he served at Lockland AFB in Texas, F.E. Warren AFB in WY, A.F. Audit Agency Office in CA, Eielson AFB in AL, ENT AFB in CO, Rosas AFB in Spain, USAF Recruiting Service in IA & NE, Misawa AFB n Japan, Dyess AFB in TX, Clark AFB in the Philippines, and Offutt AFB in NE. After his retirement, he worked for the Elba Public School District, Paulsen Construction, Tri County Sand & Gravel, Batenhorst Sand & Gravel, and J.D. Cattle Company.

Darrell married Lillie Shoemaker on August 16, 1958 and three children were born to this union, Lola, Robbie Ann, and Randell. They later divorced. He married Catherine Strong on March 24, 1969 and they were blessed with 2 sons, Brian and Scott. Cathy passed away in 1984. Later Darrell met Susan (Sue) (Mauck) Olesen and they were married on July 11, 1987. Darrell gained three stepchildren, Nunzy, Renae, and Nicholas.  When Darrell had returned to Elba from the service, he was a member of the Elba Fire Department, American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul, Leonard Wood Lodge Masonic No.105 F&AM in the Philippines, and Air Force Sergeants Association. Darrell enjoyed hunting, fishing, Husker football and Friday afternoon “bored” meetings.  He was proud to be an Air Force veteran. Darrell’s famous words “I didn’t come for the pop!”

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Susan of Elba; children, and their spouses, Randell & Amber Conway of California, Brian & Lorena Conway of Nevada, Scott & Paige Conway of Kansas, Lola Mullings of California, Robbie Ann Thompson of California, stepchildren and spouse; Nicholas & Kelly Olesen of Grand Island, Nunzy & Tom Koperski of Farwell, and Renae & Ryan Lewandowski of Dannebrog; brothers and spouses, Harley & Cheryl Conway of St. Paul, and Stanley Conway of Colorado; eighteen grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law and spouse, Sherman & Jodi Mauck, Rick Bostic, Harold Strong and Ron Crampton; sister-in-law & spouse, Janet & James Nienhuser.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Catherine Conway; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Henry & Esther Mauck, sisters-in-law, Dorothy Conway, Janice Conway, Joan Bostic; and nephew, Evan Mauck.

The service will be live streamed on our Facebook page.

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