He spent his younger years living in Vincennes, IN. At age 14 he left home to attend Concordia Lutheran High School, along with two years of preparatory school in Fort Wayne, IN. On June 21, 1958, he married Dorothy Adkins in Council Bluffs, IA. He graduated from Missouri Synod Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in 1959, following a year of vicarage in Albany, NY. Following graduation, he served churches in Almond, WI and Shelbyville, IN. In 1966, he took a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, NE and retired from there in 1997, although he never really retired from preaching. He served vacancies in Council Bluffs, IA, Cedar Bluffs, Blair, West Point, Arlington and Scribner, all in Nebraska. He participated in grandchildren wedding's and great-grandchildren baptisms, even up until last December.
He served terms as President of Kiwanis, Vice President of the Nebraska District Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Dunklau Foundation Board of Directors, Lutheran Church Extension Fund and Lutheran Family Services Board of Directors.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy, children Don (Ginger) Levenhagen, Indianapolis, IN, Becky Dabkowski, Plainfield, IN, Beth (Scott) Doht, Lyons, NE, Kris (Greg) Kavan, North Bend, NE, Tim Levenhagen, Valley, NE, 18 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Sisters Judy (Dick) Woolsey, Linda Canada, brothers Charles (Shirley) Levenhagen, Frederic (Joyce) Levenhagen and sister-in-law Carol McKinley.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and spouses, William and Joanne Levenhagen, Arlen Levenhagen, Dorothy and James Jones and Janice Burkpile. Brother's and sister-in laws, Robert and Betty Adkins, Richard and Ruthann Adkins, and Leroy and Lillian Adkins. Son Mark and grandchildren Jeremy Hobson, Matthew Doht, Jakob Levenhagen and Lakynn Rief.
A Celebration of Don's life will be held Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 11am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont. Directed Health Measures will be followed and masks are suggested. Please direct memorials to The Levenhagen Family, C/O Ludvigsen Mortuary, 1249 East 23rd St., Fremont, Ne 68025.
The service will be live streamed at https://trinityfremont.com/live-service/ beginning at 11am.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
A video of the service can be found at the following link:
https://youtu.be/xtlrr7oe6p0
Condolences(19)
Harold Schoenbohm
Council Bluffs, IA Saturday, July 18, 2020 The Lord has watched over you. You will be missed.Mark Wittmann
LINCOLN, NE Friday, July 17, 2020 Pastor was such a big help to me and my family many years ago when dad died. Was a great support for my mom, Ann Wittmann. He was a great man and instrumental in my faith as I was growing up. He is with His Lord. God's peace and blessing to you and family.Eric Levenhagen
Carmel, IN Friday, May 8, 2020 I will miss our conversations about Cubs baseball at annual family reunion or other gatherings. I am happy that Uncle Don enjoyed a great road trip with my Dad to Tennessee to visit Uncle Chuck last Fall. - Eric LevenhagenMissy Shanahan
Cedar Bluffs, NE Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Dorothy,We are so sorry for your loss. Tim and I both have such fond memories of Pastor Levenhagen. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, Tim and Missy Shanahan
Katie Mullally
North Bend, NE Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Kris and Greg and the rest of your family,Sending you my thoughts and prayers. I have lots of good memories of Pastor Don when he was the interim pastor at my church in Scribner. My heart goes out to you in this difficult time. He will be greatly missed but will be watching over you from the mansions of glory.
Debbie Bentley
Fremont, NE Monday, April 27, 2020 Dorothy,Becky and family so sorry for your loss my thoughts and prayers are with you.Freed & Jane Hertwig
Lincoln, MO Sunday, April 26, 2020 Dearest Dorothy and family,Jesus said in Jn.5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." I considered Don a prime mentor in my ministry. You and Don and your God given joy in serving Jesus in the Fremont Circuit brought so much joy. We grieve with you and your family, but we are so thankful how God gifted us through you and Don. Please let us know when the memorial service will be. We'd be honored to attend. In Christ's love, Fred & Jane
Jennifer Levenhagen
Debary, FL Sunday, April 26, 2020 Finally Home... A place he wanted to go, even a bit mad some of his siblings beat him there. So the reunion in heaven must have been awesome. My son David said: "Heaven is being taken over by Levenhagen's, they now have a Preacher, a Teacher, a Nurse, and a Craftsman." such a true statement. But you the family are left here to navigate a different life without him, his words of wisdom, his smile at a great / grand child, his advise and guidance. And now when family should be arriving, helping, bringing and cooking food, our "new" world is in lock-down. So from afar I send you all hugs of sympathy, hugs of joy, and hugs of I wish I could be there. Much love to all of you cousins, all the great / grands he so loved, and a special hug for my aunt Dorothy. I love you all.Jeff and TRACEY Herre
Fremont, NE Saturday, April 25, 2020 We just want to say how sorry we are for your loss. He was a great pastor and an even better man. We will always remember him.John Frost
Omaha, NE Saturday, April 25, 2020 I am sorry to hear of Pastors passing.Darla Wulf
Arlington, NE Saturday, April 25, 2020 So very sorry to hear about Don. Thinking of you all during this very sad and difficult time. My thoughts are with you all.Linda Canada
El Paso, TX Saturday, April 25, 2020 You were away at school a lot as I grew up but we all come to know the stories of the first four boys in the family. He maybe wasn’t the ringleader but he was in the mix. But as it goes in families we see and love and respect different aspects of each person in the family. I saw this brother as a gentler person who loved children and family, who loved the ministry, who dearly loved Dorothy (who doesn’t love this amazing woman and what a blessed fit she was for his ministry) and he loved to sing. The heart I don’t think is ever fuller of the memories and love for the person than when we know we can’t see them again on this side of heaven. So of course I am sad but rejoice that well run journey is now bringing you with the saints who have gone before. You will be missed but in the measure of time, I imagine I will see you soon enough. Sister LindaWayne Stuenkel
Birmingham, AL Saturday, April 25, 2020 Pastor Levenhagen was our “family pastor” for so many years. He was such a kind, compassionate man. I was in his first Trinity confirmation class in 1967. He was there when my father passed away, and he faithfully ministered to my mother in his role as visitation pastor after she was confined to assisted living. I have such fond memories of him and his ministry. He will truly be missed.Carol
Scribner, NE Friday, April 24, 2020 Dorothy and family,We are so sad to hear about Pastor Don's passing. He will always be so special to us - he was our vacancy pastor in Scribner. He came to the hospital when Olivia was born and baptized her the day she was born. And Dorothy, you took care of David at Trinity Daycare when he was little, so you are BOTH special to us. Now, Don won't struggle to breath as he is singing with angels in heaven! We will pray for peace for you and your family during this time.
Terri Meyer
Fremont, NE Friday, April 24, 2020 Dorothy and Family...We were so sorry to hear about Pastor. He was a wonderful man. I wish I could be their to give you a hug Dorothy! Hold on to your memories! God will get you all through this time.Adam (Jayne Adkins) Sullivan
Algona, IA Friday, April 24, 2020 Sending our prayers and love for everybody. He was amazing man and feel blessed to have known him.Jim and Jean
Fremont, NE Friday, April 24, 2020 Dorothy and family, so sorry to hear of this loss, our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very sad time. Pastor Don was a very special man he will be missed by all of us at Trinity Lutheran and what wonderful memories we will all have. God's Blessings to all of you may he rest in peace.Jim and Jeanne Brown
Tina (Nathan) McDermott
Elkhorn, NE Friday, April 24, 2020 To the Entire Levenhagen Family~Thinking of you all. You're a very special family and I am grateful I got to grow up with most of you. Take Care! Love you all!Robert Nelson
Milton, FL Friday, April 24, 2020 Dorothy & family, so very sorry to hear about Donald's passing. You were great neighbors when Fuzz & I moved in next door. Lost Fuzz almost 9 yrs ago so aware of your suffering. Lean on your children & your church & God.