Donna Stutheit

Donna Jean (Hathaway) Stutheit, daughter of Louis and Esther (Gudgel) Hathaway, was born July 30, 1927 at Beatrice, Nebraska. She was one of two children born to this marriage. Donna attended grade school in rural Beatrice and was baptized into the Christian faith when she was 11 years old.

When Donna was 12 her family moved to Auburn, Nebraska where she attended Junior High and Senior High. She played in the band and was May Fete Queen her senior year, graduating in 1945. While in school she worked at the Auburn Theatre. Donna attended Peru State College and then taught school at the Dewey School District.

On March 4, 1947 Donna married Norman Stutheit at the Stutheit Church south of Johnson, Nebraska. She was confirmed into the Lutheran faith the following year. They made their home on a farm eight miles north of Humboldt, Nebraska and were blessed with five children: Maureen, Sharon, Daryl, Nancy, and Kurt. A few years after they were married the Stutheit Church dissolved and they became members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn. Donna served on many committees and was a member of the Lutheran Women?s Missionary League.

Donna devoted her life to her family and life on the farm where she and Norman lived for 65 years. She worked briefly at Campbell?s Soup in Tecumseh and for a time at Community Memorial Hospital in Humboldt. She loved gardening, sewing and baking. Donna was a volunteer at Colonial Acres Nursing Home in Humboldt for many years.

When Donna?s health began to fail and Norman could no longer care for her, she entered the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn in 2011. She passed away suddenly at the Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn on May 10, 2013 having reached the age of 85 years, 9 months, and 10 days. She was preceded in death by Norman (December 13, 2012), her parents, sister Betty Stuck, grandson Andrew Marshall and 8 sisters- and brothers-in-law.

Donna is survived by her children Maureen Marshall and Sharon Porter, both of Lincoln; Daryl Stutheit and wife Jane of Auburn; Nancy Stutheit of Humboldt; Kurt Stutheit and wife Gina of Peru; grandchildren Brad Marshall and wife Angie, Kent Marshall, all of Lincoln; Dariane and Amber Stutheit of Auburn; great-grandchildren Hayley and Landon Marshall; brother-in-law Dennis Stuck of Alma; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn, officiated by Rev. Jonathan Rathjen. Joan Wittmann was organist for a solo by Lisa Rathjen and congregational singing. Pallbearers were Brad Marshall, Kent Marshall, Pete Eggers, Dennis Eggers, Tim Brewer, and Brett VanWinkle. Burial was in the Trinity (Stutheit) Cemetery south of Johnson.