Sutton resident Leola E. Nuss, 91, passed away peacefully Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Legacy Square in Henderson.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Sutton, with Pastor Carl Gobelman officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, March 10, 2025, from 1-8 p.m., with the family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Condolences may be left at www.sutonmemorial.com. Leola Esther Griess was born May 3, 1933, to Nathaniel and Clara Griess on her parents’ family farm north of Sutton. She was the only daughter and third out of four children. She attended country school until eighth grade and then helped on the family farm. On April 26, 1951, she married Thomas Nuss at her parents’ farm. Leola enjoyed helping Tom on the farm, raising four children, planting a garden for fresh produce, canning, and cooking many German food dishes for the family. She also enjoyed making homemade ice cream for everyone to enjoy. She loved attending school activities for her four children, as well as selling Watkins products and working part-time at the Skyliner Restaurant in the ‘70s. During the summer months, she enjoyed playing on a Sutton Co-Ed Softball team with many family members. In 1975 she started working at the Sutton Community Home and continued working until 2012. From 2009 to 2012, Tom and Leola would clean the Sutton Post Office until she retired due to her health. She then began selling Watkins, part-time until 2015.

Leola enjoyed attending as many activities as possible for her children and later her grandchildren. She especially loved when the family would get together at their home and vividly remembered all the memories created. Tom and Leola enjoyed going to Fonner Park to bet on the horses and playing Bingo. They also enjoyed watching sporting events but especially the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Atlanta Braves. Bowling was her favorite pastime activity. In September 2021, she moved into Rosewood Court Assisted Living in Henderson and enjoyed showing off her many photos of her family and friends. In December of 2023, she moved to Legacy Square in Henderson and enjoyed the many activities. She loved her time at Rosewood Court and Legacy Square but especially loved the caring staff and other residents she got to know. Many commented on her beautiful smile. Leola’s favorite color was blue, and she loved butterflies. Anytime her granddaughters saw a blue butterfly, they had to buy it for grandma to proudly display in her home.

Tom and Leola celebrated 69 years of marriage before Tom died in October 2020. To this marriage, four children were born: Jane Nuss of Aurora, Judith (Terry) Ross of rural Aurora, Simeon Nuss of Omaha, and Larry T. (Sara) Nuss of Sutton. Her greatest joy was her nine grandchildren: Justin (Jamie) Nuss of Springfield, Nishja Nuss of Omaha, Tabitha (Scott) Buchholz of Omaha, Ashley Nuss (Jeremy) of Deridder, LA, Shalon (Brock) Roth of Milford, Joshua (Tiffany) Nuss of Wood River, Clancy (Jerod) Timmermans of Sutton, Bailey (Brooks) Wiebe of Wichita, KS, and Jared (Emily) Nuss of Omaha. She is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren and sister-in-law Lorena Griess.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Tom, brothers and sisters-in-law Thomas N. and Marion Griess, Curtis N. and Anna Marie Griess, and brother Harold N. Griess.