Donald O. Bisping

Donald Otto Bisping, 90, of Linn, Kan., died Monday, May 14, 2018, at the Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center, Kan.Visitation was from 3 until 8 p.m., Thursday, May 17 at Ward Funeral Home in Linn.  The family received friends 5 to 7 p.m.A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 18 at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn.  John Zacho was organist and the congregation sang "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and "Abide with Me."Pallbearers were Todd Bisping, Tim Bisping, Scott Stone, Mike Meyer, James Kovac, Jim Wagahn, Matt Myers and Brad Schramm. Honorary pallbearers were Gary Ouellette, Greg Hudec, Mark Hungerford, Don Richardson and David Pfizenmaier. Burial was in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.Don was born on November 11, 1927 at Linn, Kan., to Otto and Hilda (Kohlmeier) Bisping.  He was baptized on November 20, 1927 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Greenleaf, Kan., by the Rev. Theodore Stolp.Don attended grade school at Immanuel Lutheran School. He was confirmed on April 5, 1942 at Immanuel Lutheran Church west of Linn by the Rev. Paul Stolp.  He was active in Walther League.He served his country from 1951-1954 as a member of the U.S. Air Force, earning his GED and two years of college. He was stationed in Japan for three years where he became a high security radar technician. There Don helped developed the first successful radar jamming device to protect the country.On July 28, 1957, Don was united in marriage to Dorian Meyer at Trinity Lutheran Church near Hanover, Kan., by the Rev. John Kovac.  God blessed this couple with three children: Donald T, Sarah and Susan.Don served in various offices at Immanuel Lutheran Church where the family were members until they transferred to Zion Lutheran Church in July of 1966, where he served on the Finance Board and Board of Education as a member of the Linn Lutheran School Board. He was also a member of the Men’s Club.He was a lifelong farmer and businessman. As a member of the Wholmoor American Legion Don was Instrumental in planning the building of the current Legion Hall in Linn.Don and Dorian helped with the founding of the German Heritage Community Club and they taught conversational (low) German through Cloud County Community College.  Don enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a loving husband of sixty years and father.After his retirement in June, 2014 the couple moved to Linn.He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Otto Brinkmann, Leonard Stone, Erwin and Doris Meyer, Gary and Loma Meyer, and John and Luella Kovac.Survivors include his wife wife, Dorian; son, Donald T. (Judy) Bisping, Linn; two daughters, Sarah (Mike) Meenen, Americus, Kan., and Susan (Joel) Whitmer, Gardner, Kan.; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; brother, Neil (Harriet) Bisping, Linn; and sisters, Edna Brinkmann, Indiana, Alice (Henry), South Dakota, and Gladys Stone of Linn.Memorials may be made to the Linn Lutheran School, Zion Lutheran Church or Orphan Grain Train.  Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald O. Bisping, please visit our flower store.