Donna Lee Kruse

Donna Lee Nider Kruse was born March 13, 1938 to Max and Hulda Zimmerman Nider in Fairbury, NE. She was raised along with her three siblings Jack, Connie and Larry on the family farm northeast of Jansen and attended Rural District #4. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jansen, Ne, confirmed at St Paul Evangelical and Reformed Church of rural Jansen and was a long time member of Grace Lutheran of Fairbury.

A 1955 graduate of Fairbury High School, Donna also attended Fairbury Junior College and began working at the Fairbury Journal newspaper. On March 11, 1963 she married Donovan Kruse and for the majority of their marriage they lived on an acreage east of Fairbury on the PWF Road where they raised their three children, Joel Max, James Arthur and Dawn Lee. Donna was employed at Kellwood Manufacturing and then at Swingsters for 29 years. Many of these years she also worked evenings at the Fairbury Elks Club where she was a valued member of the staff. Because she was a good listener, she made an excellent bartender and had a multitude of friends. Donna enjoyed the yearly gatherings of Friends of the Fifties, the monthly gatherings of Girls night out, and daily Happy Hours with her snowbird friends in Arizona.

One of her pleasures was making planters to take to the cemetery for Memorial Day and then nurturing the plants through the summer in planters and hanging baskets. She liked to mow and garden as time allowed, growing tomatoes for salsa and home canned tomato juice.

A dedicated mother, Donna loved her children dearly and fully enjoyed spending time with them and their families.
She is survived by sons Joel (Lori) Kruse of Valparaiso, Ne., James (Gail) Kruse of Sunrise Beach, Mo. and daughter Dawn (Tom) Killion of Des Moines, IA and three grandchildren Jennifer (Matt) Surface , Abby Kruse and Alex Kruse, 3 step grand children, Jill (Marty) Geschke, Ryan Diltz, Kelsi (Seth) Burney and 5 step great grandchildren, Carter and Connor Geschke, Breckin and Brooks Burney and Max Diltz. Brother Larry (Jane) Nider of Beatrice and sister-in-law Kathleen Nider of Lincoln. Nieces, Nephews and a host of friends.
Preceded in death by her parents, husband Donovan in 2001 , brother Jack Nider, sister Connie and husband Lowell Grummert. Parents in Law Arthur and Malinda Pfingsten Kruse, Brother and Sister-in-laws Gerhard and DeLoris Onnen and Dwight Kapke. Donna has one Sister-in-law still living in Lincoln, Ne.