Donald P. Sullivan, age 92, of Mullen, Nebraska, passed away June 8, 2023, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.
Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mullen with Father Matthew Nash celebrant. The service was livestreamed at www.govierbrothers.com.
Burial was in the Cedarview Cemetery.
Govier Brothers Mortuary of Mullen are in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www. govierbrothers.com.
Donald Patrick Sullivan was born on April 29, 1931, to David and Ann Sullivan. He was the 7th of 10 children.
He had four brothers - Davis, Robert, Thomas and Jerry and five sisters - Eleanor, Mary, Laura, Theresa and Rosalie.
Don attended school in Cherry County and Mullen High School. His father died when he was 17 and he continued school part-time, still managing to graduate as salutatorian of his class.
After graduation, he continued to work alongside his mother at the family ranch.
In addition to working on the ranch, he was also a mail carrier, learned the carpenter trade, and became a block layer/bricklayer, building and repairing buildings for people from Hyannis to Dunning.
He loved raising and working with cattle, but his true love was his horses. He was involved in 4-H horse shows through his children and grandchildren and helped many others with high school rodeos. Many ranchers were helped in their early years by Don and when looking for someone to care for their own cattle, trusted him over anyone else.
Don also made four trips to Ireland and was awarded Irish citizenship in 2012.
Don married Virginia Boren in 1952 and they had four children, Dave, Mary Ann, Donalee and Dennis. In 1982, he married Sherron Clegg Cox and gained stepchildren Don, James and David Cox and Tom Reynolds. Don loved having family around, especially grandkids and greatgrandkids.
Don is survived by his wife Sherron; one sister Rosalie (Sid) Bullington of Ashby; children Dave (Catherine) Sullivan of Mullen, Mary Ann (Marv) Carlock of Wray, Colo., Donalee (Bill) Barner of Mullen, and Dennis (Denise) Sullivan of Gering; step-children Don (Debbie) Cox of Mullen, James Cox of Fort Collins, Colo., and David Cox of Centennial, Colo., and Tom (Deanna) Reynolds of South Ridge, New Zealand; grandchildren Patrick (Melissa) Sullivan and children Kaylen, Carter and Calvin of Omaha, Alana Sullivan of Omaha, Trevor (Kaylee) Barner and daughters Roarke and Ramsey of Lusk, Wyo., Cami (Eddie) O’Brien and sons John and Sully of Omaha, Brodie Sullivan of North Platte, Zack (Erin) Cox and children Cort, Olivia, Luke and Trent, Tristen Cox, Garrett Cox, Josh Cox all of Mullen, Will Cox of Fort Collins, Colo., Lilly Cox of Laramie, Wyo., Gregory Reynolds of U.S. Army Ft.
Rucker, Ala., and Christopher Reynolds of South Ridge, New Zealand, as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.
The family hopes he will be remembered for his love of family, children, ranching, and horses, as well as his willingness to accept you just as you are and to help others, his teasing, and his love for a prank or two.