Donald Nigus passed away November 19, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, MO.
Donald Lee Nigus was born September 23, 1940 to Donald F. and Berea (Gentzler) Nigus in Highland, Kansas. Don attended Everest Rural high School, graduating class of 1958. He then attended Highland Junior College, Highland, KS, Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, KS, and University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.
In life Don worked as: paperboy, farmhand, grocery stocker, English teacher, football coach, bus driver, principal/superintendent, Director of DCEC, grant writer and director of HFED.
Don is preceded in death by: brother Dave; wife Patricia (Koelliker) Nigus; daughter Lisa Weiland; aunts, uncles and nephews.
Survivors include: sister Annie (Nigus) Marquis; son Phillip (Tammy) Nigus; daughters: Lynn Rupe and Lori Snavely; with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Don was the youngest rider to get to participate in the July 19-28, 1960 re-enactment of the Pony Express Ride, rider from Elwood to Wathena on his Appaloosa horse name Pepper Patches.
Family was his proudest achievement. He and wife Pat welcomed their son Phillip in July 1963; followed just a year and half later by triplet girls: Lisa, Lynn and Lori in May 1965. For Don, raising his family with Pat was the most cherished accomplishment.
Don’s other achievements included; serving on the Kansas State Board of Education, based on his extensive knowledge, he was frequently called upon to provide expert testimony at the state level.
Don first introduced “Bennie the Bus” (interactive software learning) to Kansas children who spent a lot of time on school buses. This software was displayed on computer monitors on the bus to improve the students’ education across various topics. This initiative demonstrated that learning wasn’t confined to the classroom but also could happen during their daily commute. Don was also leader in education developing interactive satellite classes for Kansas Schools and Colleges. The project’s initial goal was to assist rural students interested in taking a foreign language class that are not offered due to low enrollment. This program made it possible to bring teachers from other schools into the classroom via satellite TV. This ambition also led Don to work with NASA regarding satellites.
Don loved his hometown of Everest, Kansas where he spent his youth and graduated high school. The tale, of how the cow got on the roof at Everest High School…is one of Don’s memorable life moments. You’ll have to ask his family for the details! He was one of the proud Everest Viking Alumni who helped organize the 2011 Everest Military Honor Ceremony, a project close to his heart.
Even in Don’s later years, he never stopped learning. When the solar eclipse was to take place in 2017, he pursued his drone commercial pilot license and used his skills to try and capture photos of the solar eclipse as it passed through Northeast Kansas.
It was Don’s wish to be cremated with a celebration of Don’s life planned for 11 a.m. Friday, November 28, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha. Angie Cluck will officiate.
The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services Friday.
Memorial contributions on behalf of Don Nigus are suggested to the Lisa Weiland Breast Cancer Awareness Fund may be sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th Street, Hiawatha 66434.
The family would like to express their appreciation for the many acts of kindness extended to this during this difficult time.
