Donna Jean (Nusbaum) Leitschuck, 82, passed away December 20, 2022 at the Beatrice Community Hospital in Beatrice surrounded by her family. She was born March 1, 1940 to Denzil and Lilah (Brown) Nusbaum in Bern, KS. Donna grew up on the farm south of Bern and graduated from Bern High School in 1958. On April 12, 1959, she was united in marriage to Gary Leitschuck. They made their home in Burchard and to this union two children were born, Michael and Sandra.
While they raised their children Donna worked at the Burchard Locker and later at the Sewing Factory in Pawnee City. She was known for her cake decorating talents and created many beautiful birthday and wedding cakes. She made all the wedding cakes for her children and grandchildren. In 1981 her husband Gary took a job with a bridge construction crew, and they spent eight years traveling throughout Nebraska. She enjoyed the adventure as it gave her the opportunity to explore the libraries and cemeteries and work on her genealogy projects.
Donna enjoyed keeping vital statistic genealogy records not only on her family, but also on others. She would clip out the births, marriages and deaths from every newspaper she could find and compiled an extensive library of genealogy records in hopes of helping March 1, 1940 ~ December 20, 2022
others as they searched for their family history.
In 1990 they moved to Beatrice where Donna put her cake decorating skills to use first at Econofoods and then later at Walmart where she was employed for 11 years, retiring in 2011. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gary Leitschuck of Beatrice; son Michael Leitschuck and wife Abbie of Burchard; daughter Sandra Thompson and husband David of Stromsburg; grandchildren, Kylee Haba and husband Mark of Glenvil, Levi Leitschuck of Pawnee City, Carrie Cramer and husband Dan, Beth Phillips and husband Aaron, Stephanie Roberts and husband Jon all of Stromsburg, and Michelle Lott and husband Michael of Lincoln and 17 great-grandchildren. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Denzil and Lilah Nusbaum, brother Truman Nusbaum and sisterin-law Alice Nusbaum. Funeral Services were held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice with Aaron Phillips officiating. Burial will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery of Beatrice. Visitation was from noon until 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday prior to the service. A memorial has been established to the family for future designation. www. foxfuneralhome.net Arrangements entrusted to Fox Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Beatrice.