Donald Godel, 81, of Winner, passed away on January 14, 2015 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am Monday, January 19, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow at the Winner City Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 18, 2015 at the First Christian Church from 4-6pm with a prayer service starting at 6. Donald "Homer" Godel was born February 2, 1933 in O'Neill, NE., the son of Loyd and Alma (Springer) Godel. HE was the second son of six children. Don graduated from O'Neill High School in 1952 where he excelled in many sports including football, basketball, and track. After graduation he enlisted in the Navy, serving as a seaman apprentice on the USS Quincy until he was honorably discharged in 1954. On February 20, 1955, Don married his high school sweetheart Phyllis Harmon and to this union seven children were born. Soon they moved to Onawa, IA. where there first son was born. They lived there for a short time when Don took a job as a shoe salesman in Omaha, NE. A second son was born in Omaha. In 1958 Don took a job with Prang's Apparel Store in Winner. They called Winner home for the rest of their time together and all the rest of the children were born in Winner as well. Don worked at several other jobs throughout his career including Nesbitt Bottling Company/Whitley's Distributing for 18 years. He tried his hand as a farmer, bartender, and cook but it wasn't until he began working as a groundskeeper at the Winner Country Club that he found his true calling. He took great pride in maintain the course to perfection and even more pride in playing the course as few others could. Don's true passion in life may have been as a fan, sitting in the stands, cheering on all his children as they participated in almost every sporting event. He also was an avid sportsman, hunter, fisherman, loved to play pool, and was one of the biggest Nebraska Cornhusker fans around. He is survived by his wife Phyllis of Winner, and his seven children: Randy (Julie) Godel of Tempe, AZ., Rick (Deb) Godel of Winner, Rob (Fran) Godel of Aberdeen, SD., Shelley (Wayne) Kindt of Winner, Stacy Olson of Winner, Donny Godel of Aberdeen, SD., Danny (Ronda) Godel of Aberdeen, SD. Three brothers Veldon (Marlene) Godel of Orchard, NE., Larry (Sharon) Godel of O'Neill, NE., and Gary (Kathy) Godel of Norfolk, NE.; a brother-in-law Larry Fernau of O'Neill NE., sixteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, one step-grandchild, and two step-great-grandchildren plus numerous nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, his sister Joan Fernau, brother Dick Godel, and step-grandson Caz Welch.