Dennis Nekolite

Funeral Services for Dennis “Duff” Nekolite, age 65, of O'Neill will be 11:00 AM Thursday, February 15, 2024 at the Christ Lutheran Church in O'Neill. Burial will follow at the O'Neill Cemetery with Military Honors by the O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post #93.  Pastor John Nelson will officiate.  Visitation will be on Thursday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service.   Duff passed away on Thursday, February 08, 2024 at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital after battling lung issues, bilateral pneumonia, and A-fib.  Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation.  Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. 

  Dennis LeRoy Nekolite was born July 12, 1958 in O'Neill to Danny Nekolite and Sharon (Strong) Zakreski.  He attended grade schools in O'Neill and Ewing before attending O'Neill High School.  After high school Duff joined the army on January 26, 1976 and was stationed in Fort Riley. He married Shirley Moeller on August 13, 1976 to this union three daughters were born Jennifer, Amanda, and Kelly.  After having Jennifer, the couple moved to Hoskins, where Duff worked for Lane Morris, they then moved into Norfolk when he started working for the packing plant in Madison.  Meanwhile in 1979 he found his passion for racing when he got into sprint car racing with his father Danny and brother Danny Jr.  He would drive back to Stuart every Sunday during race season, giving it up just a few years later.  Duff and Shirley moved back to Atkinson in 1981 where he started trucking for CO.  He bought his own truck in 1983 and started driving for Nekolite Trucking with his father and brother Danny.  They moved to O'Neill in 1984 and later divorced in 1987.

  Dennis married Mary “Mimi” Wichman in 1989 in O'Neill, to this union they had two boys, Dennis “D.J” and Michael James.

  Dennis started to help out his grandpa Vernon Strong, Experience Roofing in the summers and still trucking in the winter.  He trucked for Jerry Doke and Wright Trucking for several years.  In 2007 he decided to buy White Lightening from Jerry and start his own business Dennis Nekolite Trucking and was known in the trucking family by his CB handle Dr. Love.  In 2014 he found the love of his life, Zula Salers, they establish Dennis Nekolite Ranch.  They loved to truck the country together with their dog Hugo. Dennis passion was hauling bees, family gatherings, bowling, camping, fishing, and 4th of July was his favorite holiday.  He had friends all over the country.  Zula got sick in February 2023 when he decided to retire from trucking so he could stay home and take care of her.  Zula passed away on June 5, 2023

  Duff is survived by his trucking buddy, Hugo; mother Vernona Nekolite of O'Neill, NE; Children; Jennifer Nekolite, Amanda Nekolite and Josh Thomsen, Kelly (Chris) Desive, Dennis Nekolite, all of O'Neill, NE, Zach Salers of Chambers, NE and Carrie (Jason) Whelchel of Carmichael, CA, 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; sisters, Deb (Randy) Swanson of Norfolk, NE, Cindy Hauff, Natalie (Jess) Ethington, both of O'Neill, NE; brothers, Danny (Deb) Nekolite of O'Neill, Don Nekolite of Montrose, SD, Rick Nekolite, Evan Zakrzewski, both of O'Neill, and Tucker Zakrzewski of Virginia, many other adopted children; relatives and friends.

  He was preceded in death by his significant other, Zula Salers; mother Sharon (Tom) Zakrzewski; father, Dan Nekolite; son, Michael Nekolite; grandparents, Vernon (Anna) Strong; sisters, Lori Wright and Ken Classen, Diana Zakrzewski; uncle, Paul Irwin.