Donald Paul Kilday, 89, of Fullerton, passed away Friday, June 12, 2026, at Boone County Health Center in Albion.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Fullerton, with Reverend Allen Pingel officiating. Burial will follow at Fullerton Cemetery with military honors provided by Fullerton American Legion Post #151, VFW Post #5759, and the United States Army Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Palmer-Santin Funeral Home in Fullerton. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home is serving the family.
Donald Paul Kilday was born June 10, 1937, in rural Nance County, NE, to Donald E. and Dorothy (Forbes) Kilday. He attended rural schools in Nance and Burt Counties and graduated from Fullerton Public Schools in 1955. Don was baptized into the Christian faith. Following high school, he attended the University of Nebraska from 1955 to 1957 before transferring to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where he earned a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1959.
After college, Don served six years in the United States Army Reserves. While serving, he began his farming career in rural Nance County. In the mid-1980s, he purchased his first ranch near Burwell, NE. Over the years, he owned ranches across Nebraska, the Flint Hills of Kansas, and the Cross Timbers region of Oklahoma.
Don spent a lifetime involved in agri-business and had a special love for cattle sales, whether online or in person. In his later years, he enjoyed searching the web for bargains, be it cars, tractors, guns, and other memorabilia.
In 1962, he met Elaine Siems at a dance in Grand Island and they were married on April 28, 1963, in Beatrice, NE. To this union, four children were born—Beth, Bonnie, Jay, and LuAnn. Together, they enjoyed rural life, calf and team roping, dancing, and playing cards. Elaine passed away in 2002.
On July 11, 2003, he married Judy Frenzen and along with her came her family of five sons—Craig, Kent, Scott, Rick, and Kurt. Together, they enjoyed traveling the world.
He is survived by his wife, Judy; children, Beth Kilday, Bonnie (Tim) Downing, Jay (Faye) Kilday, and LuAnn Kilday; grandchildren, Taylor (Raymond) Bares, Brett Downing, Dane Kilday, and Drew Kilday; one great-grandchild expected soon; siblings, Gary (Eileen) Kilday and Joanne( Dick) Gerber; step-grandchildren, Karli, Katie, Nikki, Jamie, Jessie, Caleb, Emily, Ashley, Jacob, Carter, Makenna, Molly, Haley, and Sophie; and 10 step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Kilday; his parents, Donald and Dorothy Kilday; step-grandson, Kyle; and one step-great-grandson.
Memorials may be directed to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Fullerton Cemetery, or the donor’s choice.
