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Donna Mae Kruse
LINCOLN — Donna Mae Kruse, 80, Lincoln, was born Feb. 10, 1943, in Hartington, to Hugo and Leona (Rupiper) Kathol and died July 8, 2023, in Lincoln. Visitation will be July 14,, from 5-8 p.m., at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., July 15, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, with Father Owen Korte celebrating Mass. Graveside services and interment will follow at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Hartington. The Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington, is assisting with the arrangements. Donna grew up in Hartington, where she attended and graduated from Hartington Cedar Catholic with the Class of 1961. She worked at Mutual of Omaha from August 1961 until March 1963. Donna married John Kruse April 20, 1964, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington. The couple lived in several places while John taught school, including New Market, Iowa, from August 1964 until May 1967; Emerson, Iowa, from June 1967 until May 1970; Pocahontas, Iowa, from August 1970 until May 1981; and then moved to O’Neill, Nebraska from August 1981, until his retirement when John and Donna moved to Seward to be closer to family. While in O’Neill, Donna worked at The Townhouse Motel from 1981 until 1984. She then ran her own day care until 1998, later working in the lunchroom at St. Mary’s until retiring in 2008.
Donna loved quilting, sewing, working the garden, baking, painting and drawing, at which she was exceptional. She also enjoyed playing cards, traveling, camping, and also did Meals on Wheels for years. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, O’Neill; she also served on the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, and served as the president of and ran the Boyd-Holt Right to Life program.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugo and Leona Kathol; sister, Geralda Gardner; and brother-in-law, Dick Steffen.
Survivors include her husband, John, Seward; six children, David Kruse, Keene, N.H.; Jacqueline Copeland and husband, Rick, Fairport, N.Y.; Dale Kruse and wife, Cheryl, Lincoln; Dennis Kruse and wife, Michelle, Lincoln; Jason Kruse and wife, Jorina, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Justin Kruse and wife, Audrey, Lincoln; 11 grandchildren, Chelsey, Taylor, April, Sean, Liam, Emalyn, Graydon, Owen, Jake, Alexa and Jordan; brothers and sisters, Kenneth Kathol and wife, Linda; Charleen Hausman and husband, Clair; Arlyce Thoene and husband, Jerome; Carol Brown and husband, Wayne; Joan Steffen; Janelle Winters and husband, Curt; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital NICU or Foundation.
