Leona Marie Loveless, 80, of Gothenburg, formerly of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital.
She was born on May 15, 1944, in Venango, Nebraska, to Edwin and Elnora (Suhr) Steinke. She attended school in Venango and graduated from Venango High School with the class of 1962. She transitioned to community college where she received her Associate degree in Business. On May 25, 1984, she was united in marriage to Carl William Loveless at the Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, Colorado. They made their home in Arvada before moving to Lexington, Nebraska in 1995, where she spent many years working in the loans and receivings department at the Homestead Bank before retiring. In 2014, the couple made their home in Gothenburg, Nebraska.
Leona loved spending her days outdoors, working on her garden, watching her stargazer lilies bloom, and taking an evening to go fishing. If she wasn't outside, she was meticulously working away on a quilt or playing cards with her friends and family. She enjoyed spending quality time with her children but always held a special place in her heart for her grandchildren, making sure they felt her love wherever they were.
Leona was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington for many years until her move to Gothenburg, where she began attending their Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a woman with an unwavering faith which helped her endure and persevere during some of the toughest moments in life. She rarely missed a Sunday service. Over the years, she assisted with teaching Sunday school, managed finances at her local church, as well as being a member of their Bell Choir.
Those left to cherish her memory is her children, Peter (Roxanna) Graham of Omaha, Veronica (Gene) Shepherd of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Patty (Ian) Stewart of Maxwell, Nebraska; grandchildren, Sarah Marie Shepherd, Josephine Nicole Stewart, Trace William Stewart, and Kort James Stewart; sisters, Eileen (Larry) Lacy of Juanita, Nebraska, and Linda (Gary) Newth of Venango, Nebraska, as well as nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Loveless.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Gothenburg with Pastor Jeff Cottingham officiating.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, with family receiving guests from 5-7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gothenburg.
Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. MDT in Venango Cemetery in Venango, Nebraska, following the service.
For those who wish to provide a memorial instead of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Reynolds-Love Funeral home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com