Don J. Vanis

Don J. Vanis, 50, of St. Paul, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, as the result of a hunting accident. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Libory's Catholic Church in St. Libory. The Rev. Sidney B. Bruggeman will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday at the church from 5 to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Vanis was born on September 27, 1962, at Grand Island, the son of Harry J. and Lucille M. (Helgoth) Vanis. He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Cody Davis of Grand Island; one son, Bo Vanis of St. Paul; one grandson, Payton Davis of Grand Island; three sisters and brothers-in-law, LuAnn and Ken Magwire of Eagle River, Alaska, Vicki and Doug Wallace of North Platte and Jeanne and Bob Prince of Grand Island; and a special friend, Corrie Cronin of Grand Island. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Don grew up in St. Libory where he attended District No. 118 School and graduated in 1980, from Northwest High School in Grand Island. He was united in marriage to Tammie Sue Bottorf on May 28, 1981, in Grand Island. Don worked for Ziller Tile of Grand Island for 18 years. In 1998, he started his own business, Vanis Versatile, which he continued to operate until his death. He was a member of St. Libory's Catholic Church and was active in the Northwest High School Trap Shooting Club, with his son, Bo. He enjoyed cooking and was a great outdoors man, hunter and fisherman. He loved his family, especially his grandson. Don truly loved life! He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Bill Vanis. Memorials are suggested to the Vanis family.