Donna L. Aksamit, 85, retired assistant professor and assistant dean in the College of Education and Human Sciences, died March 18 in Lincoln.

She was born Feb. 3, 1938, to Fred and Lydia (Heinbigner) Gies. She lived in North Platte, Nebraska, through high school.

Aksamit received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology from Nebraska. She joined the faculty in 1975. Dedicated to children — especially children with disabilities — she spent more than 25 years helping prepare special education teachers. After retiring, Aksamit founded Great Plains Education Consultants, working many years as a consultant, grant writer and program evaluator for the Nebraska Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and other entities.

She was a member of First Plymouth Congregational Church, Alpha Chi Omega sorority, the Foster Care Review Board and P.E.O. She loved her groups and was active in Random Acts of Kindness, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, gourmet club, book club and writing group. She enjoyed competitive sports, country music and spending time with friends and family.

Aksamit is survived by her daughter Julie Aksamit, Lincoln; son David (April) Aksamit; granddaughters Cayden Aksamit and Bailey Kellner; grandson Brad Kellner; great-grandson Landon Kellner, Phoenix; and sister Vera Engdahl, Lincoln. She was preceded in death by her friend, Gary Aksamit.

An informal gathering will take place at 11 a.m. April 15 at First Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D St. in Lincoln.

Gifts can be made to the Donna L. Aksamit Excellence in Special Education Fund 01129630 at the University of Nebraska Foundation, P.O. Box 82555, Lincoln, NE 68501-2555. Checks should be payable to the “NU Foundation.” Include the note “In memory of Donna Aksamit” and provide the fund name or number. To donate to the fund online, click here.