Donna Faye Leland

Donna Faye Leland, 92 of Lincoln, NE, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on April 3, 2021. She was born August 3, 1928, in Boone County, Petersburg, NE, to Walter Herman and Gussie Olive Retzlaff.

Donna lived a full life of hope, strength and grace. She made our world a brighter and better place.

Donna graduated high school in Nealy, NE. After graduation, she started working at Western Electric where she met the love of her life, Kenneth Leland. They were married in 1947 in Lincoln, NE. They had three boys -- LeRoy, Rex and Dean. She worked at Wagey Drug Store, the laundry mat and First Tier Bank, where she retired as an account supervisor.

She and her husband were members of the VFW since the 1950s. She served on the VFW Women’s Auxiliary and ran the Harris Fraley VFW Junior Marching Band. Kids from the band still send her cards about how much she touched their lives. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Donna was a remarkable cook and enjoyed preparing meals for large gatherings with family and friends. Donna had a passion for crocheting, cross-stitching and sewing. Her love of flower gardening overflowed in her yard. She enjoyed her weekly outings to the bowling alley with friends. Although Donna never drove, she was a dedicated NASCAR fan and always tuned in on race day. If she wasn’t watching NASCAR, she was watching her next favorite, wrestling. When she saw her great-grandchildren wresting in the living room, she said they were feeding her soul. She treasured her grandchildren and embraced every moment with them.

Most of all, she loved her family and instilled in her sons strong values that have served them well and passed down through the generations. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children LeRoy (Linda) and Dean (Jackie); siblings Ona Ann (Don) Strand, Paul Retzlaff, and Joy (Jerry) Broman; grandchildren Michelle (Joe) Edgar, Brandie Lovato, Derek Leland, and Sarah Rose; three great-grandchildren JohnPaul and Maximilian Lovato and Amelia Rose; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by Kenneth Leland, her husband of 57 years; Rex Leland, her middle son; her parents Walter and Gussie Retzlaff; and her siblings Mary Lou George, Warren Retzlaff, Ila Hunt and Ray Retzlaff.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 8, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. A celebration of Donna’s life will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday April 9, 2021, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will take place directly after at 2:45 p.m., with a reception following at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. 6800 S 14th St. Lincoln, NE 68512. Masks and social distancing are required.

In place of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Donna’s honor to Hearing Health Foundation. Please donate online at https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/donate or by mailing a check to 575 Eighth Ave #1201 New York, NY 10018.