Donald Covalt

Surrounded by his family, Donald Lynne Covalt, age 71, passed away on August 31, 2024, at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Don was born January 31, 1953, in Bridgeport, Nebraska, to Harry C. Covalt, Jr., and Lillian B. (Jessup) Covalt. Don’s family lived in Broadwater, Nebraska, and Torrington, Wyoming, before moving to Minatare, Nebraska, where Don graduated with the Minatare High School class of 1971. Don attended Western Nebraska Community College and the University of Nebraska, where he graduated with a degree in psychology.

 Don married Nancy Ozenberger on February 19, 1977. Don was devoted to Nancy. Together, Don and Nancy nurtured two daughters, Sarah and Julie, and a son, Eric. 

 Don carried mail for the Gering and Scottsbluff Post Offices. He retired in 2015.

Don’s life was filled with music. He sang in high school and college groups. He taught himself to play the guitar. Don’s dance band career began when he was asked to play bass guitar with Stan Stricker and the Pacemakers. In 1975, Don joined his sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Mike Nuss, to form a country band called Country Oak. Don started a band called Diamond Back. He wrote down the songs that danced in his head, and recorded many of those songs in the sound studio he set up in his basement. Don’s most recent gig was playing bass guitar with the Bunkhouse Band in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

At a young age, Don began drawing pictures to illustrate the stories he wrote. He showed younger relatives how to draw super heroes. He painted water color pictures and gave them to family members for Christmas. 

Don loved to make people laugh. Wherever people gathered, whether family, friends, or complete strangers, Don entertained his audience with his songs, jokes, puns, and stories. He will be especially missed at the Covalt family reunions.

Don was proud of his children and their accomplishments. He supported their athletic endeavors, their artistic talents, and he gave them a love of storytelling. 

Don is survived by his wife, Nancy, his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Bryan Hauger of Cheyenne, Wyoming, his daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Rusty Tyler of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and his son and daughter-in-law, Eric Covalt and Jenna Savage of Firestone, Colorado. Also surviving Don are his sister, Caryle Covalt of Minatare, sister and brother-in law, Jan and Mike Nuss of Minatare, sister and brother-in-law Joyce and Terry Muzzey of Lexington, Nebraska, brother Andrew Covalt and partner, Bertie Pollock of Morrill, Nebraska; sister-in-law Barbara and husband Mike Lowell and brother-in-law, Bill Ozenberger, all of Carrollton, Texas; nieces, nephews, and cousins; and W, the cat Don rescued by climbing a tree on a snowy, windy day.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, in-laws William Ozenberger and Ann Ozenberger, and brother-in-law James Ozenberger.

Don was passionate about finding a cure for colon cancer. Donations may be sent to https://colorectalcancer.org/get-involved/give/donate-now; https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/about/financials/; or the American Cancer Society.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 1:00 p.m., to 4:00 p.m., at the Minatare Church of Christ, 609 Avenue A, Minatare, Nebraska.