Obituary of Donald Duane Dier

Donald Duane Dier Sr. was born August 4, 1925 in Hastings, Nebraska. He passed away in the early morning hours of April 4, 2011. He was the middle son of Edward L. Dier and Hazel M. Shore, both of Hastings. His brothers, all deceased were; Edward, William, Richard and Robert (affectionately called Dobber). Don had two children with Petie Chambers (deceased); Doncella Dee (deceased) and Donald Jr. He had six grandchildren, Allison, Kelley & Daniel Murdaugh and Deanna, Donald III (Duane) and Darrel Dier, a son-in-law Allen Murdaugh and daughter-in-law Bonnie Dier. He has one great-grandchild, Derrek Gray. Don came to California in the early 1940's to work at his Uncle Don Weiss' nursery. During these years he also was part of the original surveying team for the then planned Auburn Dam. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and saw a lot of action in many theaters of the Pacific during World War II. He fondly recalled a month long R&R in Australia. He also admitted to winning a jitterbug contest while stationed briefly in Seattle. After the war he settled down and started raising his family, while still in the Reserves. In the early 1950's he was recalled to the U.S. Navy for the Korean War and saw action on several ships. Later on in the 1950's he became sales manager of Setzer Forest Products, where he was able to fly the company's Cessna Skylane to it's mills and around the country; he developed a lifelong love of wood, wood products and the wood industry. Don left Setzer for Dier Lumber Company, a wholesale lumber company, until his retirement in 1992. Don had a passion for wood and anyone who knew him could honestly say he was an expert authority and master craftsman. He was involved in hundreds of projects with his children and grand-children for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He assisted with several Girl Scout Gold projects and Boy Scout Eagle projects. Don divorced in the mid-1970's and reunited with his childhood friend and sweetheart, Eva Jean Flemming. He and Eva Jean knew each other since birth. They have been together in heart and soul since 1978. Eva Jean helped Don run Dier Lumber Company. They owned several different RV's over the years, traveling all over our great country. Eva Jean has two sons: Bob in Oceanside, CA and Jim (Donna) in Lonetree, CO. To honor his life, a Memorial Ceremony will be held April 21, 2011 at 11:30 am, at the Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Rd. in Dixon. The celebration of his life will continue at the home of his son, immediately following services.