Donnell H. Vonderfecht
Donnell “Don” Henry Vonderfecht was born April 12, 1939 in Denver, Colorado, to Floyd and Alene (nee Dorow) Vonderfecht.
He passed away at home on August 2, 2026.
At the age of ten, the family moved from Colorado to Nebraska.
He attended various country schools and then graduated in 1957 from Holbrook High School.
Don married the love of his life, Virginia L. Burton, on January 3, 1960. They were married for 66 wonderful years. They welcomed three children to their family, Matthew, Daniel and Jennifer.
During their early marriage, they lived in Holdrege, Nebraska, and Don worked for the Chevy dealership as an auto mechanic. They then made their home in Holbrook, Nebraska, where Don and his father opened an auto repair shop. He then extended his mechanic’s knowledge by learning to build and race sprint cars. Don’s love for racing continued even after his 31 year career of driving the sprint cars.
He continue building race engines for numerous customers right up to the time of his death at 87. His love of this sport can be seen by his induction into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2024.
More than his love of racing and his family, Don loved his Heavenly Father, Jehovah.
He was baptized, along with his wife, in 1975, as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Jean and his son, Matthew.
Don is survived by his wife, Virginia; his son, Daniel (Sara) and daughter, Jennifer; his two sisters, Janet (Tom) Hoffman and Suzy (Dean) Elmore. His extended family consisting of four grandsons, Kinser, Keegan, Kyler and Kyndric Vonderfecht, and daughter-in-law, Rachel Vonderfecht. He had one granddaughter, Kaeli and his bonus daughter-in-law, DeAnn Stubbs, several nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
Cremation was chosen and memorial services are scheduled for 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness (743 Burlington St., Holdrege, NE 68949) in Holdrege.
Memorials in Donnell’s memory are suggested to the Kingdom Hall in Holdrege. Online condolences may be left at lockenour. com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lockenour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge.
