Douglas A Cotant

Douglas Cotant, 81, of Kearney passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday, June 30, 2025. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Monday, July 7, 2025, at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with Troy Hythecker officiating. Visitation will be 3-5 PM Sunday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

Douglas Arthur Cotant was born on October 13, 1943, to William Harvey & Elva Pearl (Willis) Cotant at the family home in Cherry County NE. By the age of four the family moved to Mullen, NE. He graduated with the class of 1961, having lettered in football, basketball & track.

During high school he worked for Elsie Roth & Foster Andrews at the Roth Ranch north of Mullen. After graduation, Doug worked for Tom Roseberry Sr. at the Pullman Cattle Co. north of Witman until November of 1962. He moved to Montana (where his older brothers Willis & Garry were working) and worked at Winnecook Ranch until November 1963.

Doug enlisted in the US Army on December 18,1963, at Butte, MT. He was stationed for Basic Training at Fort Ord, CA. He finished in March and attended Administration School until May. The Army then sent him overseas to Bangkok, Thailand. He was stationed at Khorat and worked at the 31st Field Hospital and later at the 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany. Doug was honorably discharged on December 17, 1966, and arrived back in the States in May of 1967.

After returning home, Doug worked at the Army Ammunition Plant in Grand Island and graduated from the GI School of Business in 1969. In 1971, he graduated with his AASD in Data Processing and Business Administration from Central Nebraska Technical College in Hastings. He continued to work in Hastings and Grand Island.

On July 14, 1977, Doug married Mary Wetherilt. Mary brought Patrick McClure with her to this union. They were blessed with four girls. They lived in Grand Island until moving to Kearney in 1986. In 1987, Doug survived a terrible car accident, resulting in a broken back and collapsed lungs. He was life flighted to Omaha and had a long recovery with lots of help from family during that time.

Doug worked for the Kearney Hub delivering newspapers for many, many years. In 1990, he began working for Cabelas in Kearney as a customer service rep. Doug loved talking to people from all over the country and making sure your newspaper was in the correct spot. He retired after 30 years in 2020.

He loved visiting family. You will not find someone who was as proud of his family as he was. He attended many soccer, softball, and basketball games, as well as lots of track meets for his grandchildren. If you ever texted Doug, you would know he loved a good emoji.

Survivors cherishing his memory include children: Patrick McClure of York, NE, Teresa Cotant (Cheryl Wiese) of Omaha, NE, Stephanie (Justin) Krahulik of Seward, NE, Denise (Troy) Hythecker of Davenport, IA; grandchildren: Owen, Ava, Liam and Isla Krahulik, Caleb and Leah Hythecker, Dillen and Colten McClure; mother of his children and friend, Mary Wetherilt of Grand Island, NE; brother, Mick Cotant of Imperial, NE; sisters: Vonnie Barr of Wolbach, NE, Mary Jane (Don) Younkin of Mullen, NE; sisters-in-law: Linda Cotant, Sharyl Cotant; brother-in-law, Vernon Shears; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Christina; brothers: William Harold (Dee) Cotant, Willis Cotant, Garry Cotant; sister, Shirley Shears; brother-in-law, Dale Barr; and nephew, Kenley Farrell.