Donald Nail
Donald Nail was born Nov. 17, 1936, in a cabin on the bank of Elm Creek near Foraker, the fourth of five children to Roy Everett and Hazel Oleta Coble Nail.
He passed away Nov. 7, 2023, in Kingfisher, 10 days shy of his 87th birthday. Don graduated from Foraker High School in 1954 at the age of 17. When he turned 18, he joined the U.S. Army. He was a member of the 11th Airborne Division, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment.
He was stationed in Munich Germany for three years and was honorably discharged in October 1958.
Don married Hazel Anita Thomison on June 9, 1959, in Foraker.
He retired in 1999 after a 30-year career with Phillips Petroleum Company.
He was a member of the Kingfisher Elks Lodge, the Oklahoma Cattleman’s Association and the NRA-ILA.
He loved horses and had horses on the farm in Kingfi sher for 50 years, breeding primarily Paint horses.
For several years he announced Kingfisher junior high and high school football games, ran the clock for wrestling matches and announced roping events.
He worked for several years assisting Lippard Auctioneers and he also became a precinct worker for local elections.
He was a consummate family man, who always made the effort to keep in touch with even his distant relatives.
One of his greatest joys in life was following all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they competed in livestock shows, sporting and other events.
He will be greatly missed. Don is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nita; son Donald Engelbrect and wife Helga of Munich, Germany; son Rusty and wife Diana of Cashion; daughter Lesa and partner Pieter Janse-Vreeling of Spring Grove, Ill.; sons Dennis and wife Erica of Sharon and Karl and wife Kayla of Newcastle.
He is also survived by grandchildren Janina Engelbrect of Munich, Germany; Jay Nail of Stillwater; Marisa Mordini of Chicago, Ill.; Vince Mordini and partner Kaley of Greely, Colo.; Jason and wife Julia Nail of Woodward; Dusty and wife Tallie Nail of Sapulpa; Jennifer and husband Joe Giacomini of Bishop, Calif.; Emalee Nail of Weatherford; Darci and husband Bradley Sisemore of Newcastle; Kayli and husband Nathan Janda of Bridge Creek and Karli Nail and fiancé Austin Engelke of Newcastle. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Haylee, Maysa and Zayne Nail of Woodward; Lainey and Jake Giacomini of Bishop, Calif., and Grey Sisemore of Newcastle as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Mary Frances Griffith of Dothan, Ala.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother James Nail, sister Nancy Strom, sister Shirley Ann Nail, niece Glenda Nail, his mother- in-law and father-in-law Alfred and Hazel Wahaneta Thomison, brothers-in-law Bill Strom, Ray Mehl, Melvin Bethel, Boyd Thomison, Gerald Gappa and Hugh Griffith, and sisters-in-law Eileen Nail, Linda Bethel and Ellen Thomison.
Visitation for Donald will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, at Sanders Funeral Service Chapel.
A public celebration of life will be held at the Sanders Funeral Service Chapel at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Please see www.sandersfuneralservice. com for a complete obituary.