Deanna Buescher

Hastings resident, Deanna Lee (Briggs) Buescher, 73, passed away Saturday, July 16, 2016 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.

Rosary will be Wednesday, July 20, 2016; 6:30 P.M. at Butler Volland Chapel, Hastings. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, July 21, 2016; 10:00 A.M. at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, Hastings with Father Joseph M. Walsh officiating. Burial will be in St. Stephen's Cemetery, Lawrence. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 20, 2016; 9:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. with family present 5:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Catholic Social Services or designated for masses.

Deanna Lee (Briggs) Buescher was born March 23, 1943 in Denver, Colorado to Harold and Alvene (Beach) Briggs. In 1946, they moved to a farm southwest of Clay Center, Nebraska where Deanna graduated high school in 1961. She was active in 4-H during her high school years and loved to show calves. She then attended Hastings College, but decided she would like to be a nurse and transferred to the Kearney College of Nursing. She graduated from the college as a LPN and worked at the hospital in Kearney and later Bishop Clarkson Hospital in Omaha. In 1973, she moved to Edgar, Nebraska to become the Director of Nursing of the local nursing home.

In 1975, she married Walter Buescher and they lived on their farm south of Lawrence, Nebraska. They had two children, Jeff Buescher of Hastings, Nebraska and Sara Thompson (Kent) of Lawrence, Nebraska. She was blessed to have 6 grandchildren, Judson Buescher of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jacob Buescher (LaRissa) of Anchorage, Alaska and Kaden Thompson, Konnor Thompson, Kole Thompson and Kyler Thompson all of Lawrence, Nebraska. She recently became a great-grandmother to Rhyder Buescher of Anchorage, Alaska.

Deanna liked to care for many of her nieces and nephews when she first moved to Lawrence and also worked on the farm. She taught Sunday school and CCD classes for St. Stephen's parish in Lawrence, Nebraska. She was a wonderful caregiver for her parents in Clay Center for over 20 years and was active in PEO and Altar Society. Deanna always had an affinity for her dogs and always loved to take care of children. Deanna loved to host friends and relatives from all over and was famous for the meals she would cook when they visited. She also loved to cook and bake for family and friends on holidays. She was a prolific Christmas decorator and even went so far as to have a Christmas tree in the bathroom one year.

She was preceded in death by her parents, numerous aunts and uncles, and several cousins.

She is survived by her husband, Walter; two brothers, Dick Briggs (Judy) and Gary Briggs (Jeanne) of Grand Island; her children, Jeff and Sara; grandchildren; and great-grandchild.