Luella Luchsinger, 88, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Emerald Nursing and Rehab in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, December 11, at St. Luke's United Church of Christ with Rev. Adam Lassen officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Thursday, from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to St. Luke's United Church of Christ or to the donor's choice.  The funeral service will be broadcast live on St. Luke's website https://www.saintlukescolumbus.org/

Luella Luchsinger was born on March 28, 1937, to Willie J. and Ida (Schwanke) Menke in rural Columbus. She graduated from Columbus High School. She taught in Colfax County before teaching in Fremont and living with her sister, Marcella. She was united in marriage to Raymond Luchsinger on June 21, 1963 at Shell Creek Baptist Church north of Columbus. They had two sons, Kevin and Rick. She taught for many years in Columbus, Nebraska, and she retired from Lost Creek Elementary, where her family picked her up in a limousine to give her a ride home in style.

Luella had a strong faith and a passion for teaching. Over her lifetime, she enjoyed volunteering in church by teaching Sunday School, being a part of her circle, delivering meals on wheels, and would help out at the church's fall market. She was an avid reader, enjoyed doing search a word puzzles, and playing games with her children and grandchildren. She always had a huge garden and loved having flowers outside. She enjoyed taking many trips with Ray once she retired. She lit up whenever she would see Kevin and Stephanie's dog, Murphy. We will miss her beautiful smile, hearing her sing hymns in church with her whole heart, and her wonderful cooking and baking.

Luella is survived by her husband, Ray, of 62 years, her son Kevin (Stephanie) of rural Columbus, Rick of Columbus, and her grandsons Nathan (Danielle) of Shelby and Alex of Columbus. She was also survived by her sister Ruth Durkop of Columbus and brother George Menke of rural Columbus, her sisters-in-law, Enola Luchsinger of Columbus and Maxine Traudt of Colorado.

Luella had many nieces and nephews who have many fond memories of her at the family farm and at family gatherings.

Luella was preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law, brother Dwayne (Gen) Menke, sisters Marcella (Ray) Hauser and Vernice (Edwin) Voigt, brothers-in-law Dale Durkop, Marvin Luchsinger and John Traudt, sisters-in-law Harriet Vosseler and Judy Menke.