Donald Dean Donovan, 73, passed away in the early morning of October 4, 2026 in his sleep at a nursing facility in Kansas City, Kansas.
He was born June 1, 1953, in Iola, Kansas, to Curtis Almer and Elaine Donovan, who predeceased him.
He leaves 4 children; Angie (Brandon) Clark of Osawatomie Kansas, Livie (Ben) Weber of Barnsdall Oklahoma, Michael (Candy) Sweet and Terry Donovan of Cameron Missouri, 10 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren with more on the way.
DELPHOS__The visiting Bluffton High School girls volleyball team lost the first set, but rallied to beat Delphos Jefferson in a four-game Northwest Conference match on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The Pirate girls improved to 13-7 overall and 5-2 in the NWC with the 22-25, 25-12, 25-19, 25-23 road victory.
DJ fell to 10-10 overall and 2-5 in NWC play after the home defeat.
Gracie Warren led Bluffton with a season-high 15 kills.
MIDDLE POINT__The visiting Bluffton High School boys soccer team shut out Lincolnview 5-0 to win yet another Northwest Conference championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The Pirates improved to 7-5-3 overall and finished 3-0 in the NWC after the road win that clinched yet another league crown in the four-team standings.
On the evening of Monday, October 5, the Bluffton Fire Department was dispatched to SRK Industries on Snider Rd. for a reported fire alarm. Chief Jon Kinn provided the following details.
"The first arriving units found heavy smoke coming from the north end of the facility. Mutual aid was requested from both the Beaverdam-Richland Fire Department and Southwest Hancock Joint Fire District.
COLUMBUS GROVE__The Bluffton High School girls soccer team clinched at least a share of their second straight Northwest Conference title with a 2-2 tie in their showdown at fellow-league unbeaten Columbus Grove on Monday, Oct. 5.
Coach Brendon Matthews posted, “Came back from being down two goals in the process and showed some great character.”
In this column, I have written about the greatest sports teams at Bluffton High School I have seen, the greatest coaches there that I have rubbed elbows with when I taught there, and some great BHS athletes I have seen in action. This is based on my attending Bluffton Exempted Village Schools for 12 years, graduating, and being a Pirate fan up to the present.
This column might be my favorite. It is about a person who, in my opinion, was a most amazing person, and the greatest teacher I ever knew. She is Mrs. Margaret Weaver. Teaching Latin when I arrived as a mathematics teacher at Bluffton High School, she became a close friend. We even shared the same classroom my first year at Bluffton.
FROM BPL UPDATES__The Bluffton Public Library is looking for people who want to showcase their collections or highlight a cause in the display case next to the front desk.
Show off what you collect, create or are passionate about or help provide awareness or resources for others in the community. The library staff can provide more information.
The September display featured items found in returned library books. Cat display coming soon in recognition of National Cat Day, October 29.
