Saturday, December 9, 2023 – Donnie Rannefeld, age 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Abilene on Saturday, December 9th, 2023. Rannefeld served as Nolan County Sheriff for three terms from 1997 until 2009. Prior to becoming Sheriff, Rannefeld had a full career with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a Trooper for over 26 years. Rannefeld even came back out of retirement from being Sheriff and served another 3 ½ years as a Deputy for the NCSO doing prisoner transports. All together Rannefeld had 45 years of full-time service as a dedicated Texas Peace Officer.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Nita, daughter Melissa, and grandsons Zach and Chase. Donnie Rannefeld leaves behind a legacy of public service and many close friends in law enforcement. He will be dearly missed.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. Friday, December 15, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Sweetwater with Rev. Tique Hamilton officiating. Interment will follow at Roscoe Cemetery directed by McCoy Funeral Home.
Sheriff David Warren