Buzz Downing

A Memorial Graveside Service will be Friday, May 5, 2023, at 2:00 pm at the Merna Cemetery west of Merna. Memorials are suggested to the Family for later designation. A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 4^th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with family greeting at that time, at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com.

Dale “Buzz” Alan Downing of Broken Bow, NE passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on April 30, 2023.

Buzz was born August 29, 1948, to Howard and Josephine (Lindner) Downing in Broken Bow, NE. He joined his older sister Betty to complete their family. Buzz graduated from Anselmo-Merna High School in 1967. In 1971 he was united in marriage to Diana “DeeDee” Lynn Borders of Broken Bow. This year in July, they would have celebrated 52 years together. To this union two children were born. Brandi in 1978 and Ryan in 1981.

Buzz enjoyed spending as much time with friends and family as possible. Buzz and DeeDee were able to travel and enjoy seeing new places and adventures. Buzz was known and loved by many people for his kind, outgoing personality, along with his orneriness and well-known muscle cars (67’ GTO and 69” Judge) that he drove when he was younger. His great passion was hunting and trapping (Deer, Coyote, Bobcats, Prairie Dogs, etc.) not to mention he was very good at it. Some of his favorite memories come from driving the country roads, hunting, and guiding with his friends, brothers-in-law Randy, Steve, Scott, and KC, and father-in-law Bill, nephews, his daughter, and other family, as well as his faithful companions Scooby and Jake. He enjoyed old western movies and always had a good laugh when he and DeeDee would watch Funniest Home Videos while cuddling on the couch with his favorite blanket and their cat Elvis.

Buzz was always a hard worker. He started working at a young age mowing lawns, working at a gas station in Merna, working for the County, and finally at Becton Dickinson in Broken Bow for almost 34 years as a Receiving Clerk before having to retire in 2001 due to health reasons.

Buzz is survived by his wife DeeDee, his daughter Brandi (Lance) Sommer of Broken Bow, son Ryan (Jess) Downing of Aurora, grandchildren Alyssa (Morgan) Burr of Kearney, Kaiden Downing of Aurora, great grandchildren Kayla Burr and Nevaeh Lewis of Kearney, sister Betty (Bud) McBride of Ainsworth, Brothers-in-law Steve (Gina) Borders of Sutton, Scott (Carol) Borders of Scottsbluff, and sister-in-law Laurie (Barry) Sheridan of Sutton. Buzz is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Buzz was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Josephine (Lindner), father and mother-in-law Bill and Ruth Borders, brothers-in-law Randy Borders, and KC Borders, nephews Greg McBride, Cory Whittaker, and Blake Smith, and his great granddaughter Brynlee Nicole.