On Friday, November 3, 2017 heaven gained a brave warrior. Donald Martin Brewer, age 66, of Omaha, Nebraska died at Methodist Hospital, in Omaha, after a 6 year, courageous battle with cancer. Donnie was born October 8, 1951, in Omaha, to George and Ethelyn (Miller) Brewer. He attended and graduated from Decatur Schools in 1969. Donnie worked a few jobs before joining IUOE, Local 571. He began his construction career working at Eby Construction and retired from Fucinaro Excavating in September2016. He started his retirement job days later, going to work for Wenninghoff Seeding. There he set his own hours, working 7 days a week, enjoying his time with the boys. 

On October 14, 1978, Donnie married Linda Kuszak Hawk in Omaha, where they spent their married life, raising their four children. When the kids were young the family outing was typically a Sunday in the woods at Golden Springs, cutting wood and having a picnic. 

Donnie loved operating his front-end loader and an acquaintance once noted that he enjoyed watching him because it was like watching a ballet. Donnie lovingly mentored many young men who loved and respected him and thought of him as their father. These young men were his close friends and remain a huge part of his family. Donnie’s hobby was working and helping anyone and everyone. He has a sign in his garage that reads, “Donnie’s Rent-a-Tool” and Donnie always went with the tool to help. Donnie loved dirt track racing, NASCAR racing, camping with his wife Linda, family and friends. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren and the minute he found out a friend or family member was expecting their first born, he set to work making them a rocking horse. 

Recently Donnie resumed his love of fishing as he joined his brother Tim for his yearly fishing trip to Canada, stating he wished he hadn’t waited so long to go along. Donnie could take apart anything and have a bucket of parts and put it back together, or instruct you over the phone how do to it. He had a knack for packing a small house full of belongings into the small space of a car trunk and still have room for that one last thing. 

He was always the last to leave a get-together and had a fun sense of humor. It is said that God only takes the best and He sure took a good one this time. He is whole, he is healed, he is without pain and he would not want us to weep for very long. 

Survivors include his wife Linda; children, Melissa Brewer of Helena, AL, Kelly Hawk, Scott (Andi) Brewer and Andrea Gilbert, all of Omaha; mother, Ethelyn Brewer of Decatur, NE; brother, Tim (Tari) Brewer of Omaha; sister, Sheila (Rick) Hampton of Tekamah; grandchildren, James Hawk, Samantha, Logan and Dylan Brewer, Jackson Gilbert, Caden Hawk and Peyton Hoffman; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and a host of adopted family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, George M Brewer; infant brother, James; grandparents, Glenn and Evelyn Miller and George and Selma Brewer.

 (Information taken from 25th Alumni Booklet May 1994.  Please send an e-mail to update information at any time.)

Spouse:  Linda

Children:  Melissa, Kelly, Scott, Andrea

Occupation"  Heavy Equipment Operator

     Worked at Shar-Lo in Tekamah for 3 years and a short time at IBP.  Moved to Omaha in 1976, working with various construction companies.  Have worked for Fuchinaro Excavation for the past 16 years.

Updated: 4/6/09