Derold D. Davidson

Derold D. Davidson of Cozad passed away Friday, November 26, 2021 at Athens, Greece at the age of 88.

Derold was born on September 24, 1933, to Harry and Gladys Davidson in Polk, Nebraska. He was the youngest of three brothers and grew up on a farm in Scottsbluff where he helped deliver milk before school to the Prisoner of War camp located nearby. He graduated from Scottsbluff High School where he was active in football and basketball. Many people knew him by his nicknames Waynie or Putt.

He met the love of his life and future wife Clarine Monroe, one night in a dark alley in Cozad. He loved to tell this story to anyone who asked how they met. They were married in Cozad Methodist Church on June 28, 1953 and celebrated their 68th anniversary in June.

Derold was drafted into the Army in 1954 and was stationed in La Rochelle, France. He served in the communications department sending messages to the United States using morse code. In 2018, to celebrate their 65th anniversary, Derold and Clarine traveled back to La Rochelle with their daughters to visit the office where he worked, their homes and the old neighborhood.  After leaving the Army, they moved to Harlan, Iowa, where he worked in construction building roads. In 1969, he opened 3-D Automotive, an auto parts business, in downtown Cozad. As a business owner for eight years, he also served on the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions’ Club, sponsored stock cars for racing, and was a member of the Elks Club. Derold and Clarine worked construction together over a 5-state region for 20 years until retirement.

Derold was a member of the Parkview and First United Methodist Church in Cozad. He was a compassionate and caring person with a big heart, who was a forever friend to those that crossed his path in life. Derold and Clarine traveled across the U.S. to maintain  these valued friendships. Every Christmas Dad took the time to send a hand-written Christmas card to all of their friends and family. He was a two-time lung cancer survivor, who shared his experiences with cancer support groups and helped individuals in their battles with cancer. He always said that he was on “borrowed time” and that the Lord was not finished with him yet.

Derold treasured his family and loved to travel. Several times a year Derold and Clarine would travel to Texas to visit their daughters’ and their families. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always excited when Grandpa and Grandma D came to visit because they were their biggest fans when watching them participate in sports, band, art, cheer and other activities. When the grandkids and great-grandkids came to visit Grandpa D, the first request was always to “go see Grandpa’s trains”. Derold had a love of trains and his work of heart was his HO train room. He worked for countless hours building the tracks, the town and the landscape to create an elaborate layout to provide endless hours of play and joy for him, the grandkids, the great-grandkids and anyone else who was interested.

Derold was a great collector of many things and frequently searched for items at auctions, thrift stores, flea markets, antique stores and the annual junk jaunt. On any day you could find him reading a book, working a crossword puzzle, a sudoku, a jigsaw puzzle or any other available puzzle. He enjoyed bridge club and playing cards with friends and family.

At an early age, Derold became a big Cornhusker football fan and has been a constant supporter ever since. He had the ultimate experience when his grandson played Husker football.  Grandpa D rarely missed a game and was his grandson’s biggest fan. He was a big fan of Husker Volleyball too.

Derold was outnumbered at home with five daughters, but considered himself the richest man ever. We had a sign just for him, “There is a special bathroom in heaven for the father of girls.”

Derold is preceded in death by his parents, brothers and his daughter Patricia Harris.

Family includes his wife Clarine; Daughters Patricia (Danny) Harris, Cynthia (David) Crick, Christine (Larry) Taylor, Derry (Dan) Cornelius, Elizabeth (Guy) Stevenson; Grandchildren, Donn & Michelle Cloyd, Theresa & Shane Martin, Sylvia & Garrett Steiger, Jared & Emily Crick, Melissa Crick, Kevin Walters, Lyndee & Ronnie Mitchell, Jeff & Danielle Walters, Steven & Kelly Walters, Christopher & Katrina Alphin, Amy & Trannie Smith, Wendy Taylor, Jenny & Robert Humphrey, Stacy & Joey Rider, Fisher Taylor, Daniel & Jenipher Cornelius, Haley Cornelius, Samantha & Marc Cleverley, Chase & Rachel Stevenson, Nick Stevenson, Andrew Stevenson; and forty-one great-grandkids.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cozad United Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Smith officiating.