Doyle Lee Lund - Obituary

Life began for Doyle on May 25, 1929, on a farm near Covert, KS where he grew up and learned to love the land and the outdoors. As a young man in Osborne, he married Joan Wheeler; they had three daughters. In 1953, Doyle entered the Soil Conservation Service as an engineering technician, transferring to Colorado soon after. A total of 15 years was spent in the service providing surveying and design work and promoting soil and water conservation. This became his passion and led to co-ownership and management of Sidney Conservation Contractors in Sidney, Nebraska.

Over the course of 35 years, the company designed and constructed dams, tail water pits, terraces, feedlots, and county roads in a total of 25 counties in Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming. Doyle was contacted for nearly any type of job requiring the skillful operation of heavy equipment and generally responded to the challenge, resulting in many interesting stories.

One of the most unusual and exciting experiences was the discovery of an enormous four-tusk mastodon west of Sidney.

Very active in community life, Doyle was a member of and very active participant in a number of professional organizations. Serving for many years as chairman of the heavy equipment operator school at Western Nebraska Technical Collage, he was instrumental in the development of the program, continuing to serve in a management and oversight capacity. Always an active member of the Nebraska Land Improvement Contractors Association, Doyle served many years as Area Director, and two years as President. He received much recognition for professional achievement from his peers including being named State Contractor of the Year in 1976, and a Merit Award for Conservation in 2004. Doyle and his second wife Evie (Buttle), who filled the role of company accountant, looked forward to attending every national convention, enjoying the camaraderie of the other members and their wives and the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences.

Following the loss of his beloved Evie, Doyle retired at the age of 75 and he was drawn back to his Kansas roots. There he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to farm with his brother Lowell and nephew Rod, perform many varied tasks on the farm of his friend Alice LaRosh, re-connect with family and old friends, and establish many new friendships.

Work was Doyle's greatest passion, but he also enjoyed visiting his three daughters, two step-sons, and their families in Colorado and California whenever possible. For many years, fall took him to northwestern Colorado to hunt deer and elk. Hunting wild turkey in Nebraska later became a favorite. Fishing in Alaska and several overseas trips were highlights, but he gained as much pleasure from visiting the Colorado mountains, Nebraska Sandhills, and driving through farm and grassland in the states in which he lived. Doyle lived life to the fullest and enjoyed all that life had to offer. After 89 years, Doyle's odyssey on this earth came to an end on August 7, 2018.

Doyle is survived by daughters, Marla Sharkey, Brenda Lund and Deanna Stroud, all of the Denver area, step-sons Bill Buttle of Colorado Springs and Bob Buttle of California, along with 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Sisters Marvalene Schreiber and Phyllis Kreft of Osborne, sister-in-law Janice Lund of Natoma and their extended families.

In accordance with his wishes, Doyle will be cremated with a 'celebration of life' memorial service to be held at a later date.

Cards and well wishes may be sent to the family in care of: Deanna Stroud, 12296 West Crestline Dr., Littleton, CO 80127