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Leta Lois (Klein) Steinkuhler came into this world March 25, 1929 in Burr, NE and passed away June 13, 2023 at the Good Samaritan Center in Syracuse, NE.

Leta was the youngest daughter of William and Mary (Thiesfeld) Klein.  She was raised on a farm near Burr, NE with her 5 siblings.  It was there that she learned to be one of the hardest workers around, love animals, and wrestle with her brother Arnold and sister Irene.  This is also where she became a very independent, and also a very stubborn lady, who was not afraid to tackle new jobs or take on any challenge.

Leta graduated from Burr High School, where she loved to play volleyball.  A love she would pass on to not only her daughter, but granddaughter and great-granddaughters too.

On July 3, 1953 she married Ervin Steinkuhler in Lincoln NE.  From this union was born a daughter Mary.  Leta held a variety of jobs, including telephone operator, waitress, nurses aide, home health worker, custodian, and packer at Wheaton Tubing,  But the job that made her the most popular was a candy dipper at Russell Stovers.  Many kids enjoyed the seconds she brought home to share.

She loved her church, Hope Lutheran Church in Burr, NE.  She loved coaching softball and attending all of Mary's sporting events.  So much so that later, she missed very few of her grandchildrens' and then great-grandchildrens' sporting events.

After Erv passed in February of 1981, she remodeled her house herself and was known to tar a roof, even in 110 degree weather!

Leta always had a dog in her house, most of them named Penny.  That is, until the last one passed and she discovered her love of cats.  She enjoyed dogsitting for her grandpuppies Red, Carter, and Buster.

She has left behind her daughter, Mary Pope and son-in-law, James, of Unadilla, NE; Grandchildren Benjamin Pope (Kellie) of Avoca, NE, Trevor Pope (Megan) of Bennett, NE, Leslie Malloy (Colin) of Omaha, NE, and Cody Pope (Sarah) of Lincoln, NE; Great-Grandchildren Kyler Brown, Keegan (Kahner) Pope, Jarin Pope, Hunter Pope, Evan Pope, Ella Malloy, Neely Malloy, Brayden Pope, and Carson Pope; Great-Great-Grandchildren Palmer Brown, Cora Brown, and Paxtyn Pope; numerous nieces and nephews; and many others who called her "Grandma". Their world is now a little emptier, but filled with great memories of many laughs and family trips to Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin Steinkuhler; her parents; father and mother-in-law August and Ella Steinkuhler; Siblings Arnold Klein and wife Agnes, John Klein and wife Mary, Irene Saathoff and husband Richard, Ilene Saathoff and husband Carl, Vera Conradi and husband Paul; Siblings-in-law Ida and husband Fred Eisenhauer, Lydia and husband Clarence Kreifels, Ann and husband Walter Stutheit, Edna and husband Lyle Haack, August Steinkuhler, Elmer and wife Maxine Steinkuhler, William Steinkuhler and Paul Steinkuhler.

Leta was adored by many for her sweet and sometimes spicy demeanor. When anyone asked Leta about her age, she would always laugh and say, "You know you can't kill a weed!"  Well her family wishes that weed was still here with them!

Memorial services will be held on Monday, June 19th at 10:30 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in Burr. The service will be livestreamed on the Fusselman Facebook page.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 18th from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home in Syracuse.

Memorials are suggested to the Capital Humane Society.

Arrangements By: Fusselman Allen Harvey Funeral Home, Syracuse

Condolences to www.fusselmanallenharvey.com