Norman E. Oukie Kuxhausen

Norman E. “Oukie” Kuxhausen, 78, of Mitchell, died Friday, December 24, 2010, at his home. His funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 28, 2010, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor Ed Hunzeker officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park with military honors provided by the United States Navy. Friends may visit from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. Memorials have been established to Prairie Haven Hospice and Mitchell United Methodist Church. Norman was born May 15, 1932, at Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Fred and Elsie (Leonhardt) Kuxhausen. He grew up in Scotts Bluff County, living on the farm most of his life. He attended school in Gering and Scottsbluff. He joined the United States Navy in 1950 and served on aircraft carrier, USS Point Cruz. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He married Mary Sayre on February 17, 1952, in St. James Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff. Following his service in Navy he worked for his uncle driving a gas truck. He later began farming and farmed for the next 30 years. He retired from farming in 1991 and worked for Pathfinder Irrigation Company as a ditch rider until his health prevented him from working. Survivors include his wife, Mary Kuxhausen; two daughters, Debbie (Rick) Erdman of Scottsbluff and Susan (Randy) West of Mitchell; one son, Norman Kuxhausen Jr. of Mesa, Arizona; seven grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Elsie Kuxhausen; his one and only sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Rhinny Drumheller.