Lelia A. Haussler

Lelia Ann (McCoy) Haussler, formerly of Arapahoe, age 105, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the Elwood Care Center and Assisted Living in Elwood, Nebraska.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be given to the Furnas-Gosper Historical Society and Museum or Arapahoe Methodist Church, both in Arapahoe, Nebraska. 

Lelia was born on the family farm south of Arapahoe, Nebraska on August 15, 1921, to Stacey B. and Edith (Thomas) McCoy.

She weighed only 2 3/4 pounds, was cradled in her Dad's shoebox on the oven door, and fed with an eyedropper. Her Dad's wedding band was her bracelet.

Lelia graduated from Beaver City (Nebraska) High School in 1939 and married Lester John Haussler on August 9, 1941. To this union, three sons were born: Lester Leon in 1942, Danny Lee in 1944, and Doran Dee in 1945. Following her high school graduation, Lelia worked for the Furnas County Clerk's Office in Beaver City. She worked for the Arapahoe Public Mirror when her boys were small and helped the boys with their paper routes. In 1959, she began work as a teller for the Citizen's State Bank retiring in 1984 after 25 years of service. Throughout her adult life, she enjoyed clerking auction sales on weekends for her father and brother's business, McCoy Auction and Real Estate.

Lelia was baptized and confirmed in the First United Methodist Church and was an actively involved church member throughout her lifetime. She was a member of the Nebraska Bank Women, and very active in the Furnas County Genealogical Society, Beaver City, and the Furnas-Gosper Historical Society and Museum. She served on the Furnas County Election Board, the City Council, the Zoning and Planning Commission, and until she was at least 95, helped serve senior citizens (many much younger than she) and clean up after the meals at the Arapahoe Senior Center. She was a recipient of the Nebraska Governor's Volunteer of the Year Award and was an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.

Up until the time when Lelia moved to the Elwood Care Center, she was considered the local historian and "go-to person" for anyone wanting information about their family's history in Furnas County. In addition to all the research she did for families, she helped put together a notebook of Civil War Veteran and World War II Veteran records and did research on rural schools in Furnas County. She supplied many articles to the Arapahoe Public Mirror about the "town news." She loved to read, and her greatest joy was having her family home for holidays. Les and Lelia also helped raise many of their nieces and nephews.

Lelia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Lester J. Haussler, who passed in 2002; her son, Lester L. Haussler; two brothers, Leon McCoy of Neligh, Nebraska, and J.D. "Jake" McCoy of Arapahoe; and a brother-in-law, Don Andrews, and sisters-in-law, Lois McCoy, Fran McCoy, Shirley McCoy, Mable Holder, and Edith Teet.

She is survived by her sons and their wives, Dan (Alicia) of Grand Island; Dee (Jerri) of Hastings; daughter-in-law, Marlene of Denver; her seven grandchildren and spouses, Angie (Gregg) McCaslin of Star, Idaho; Brad (Tina) Haussler of Lincoln; Greg (Rita) Haussler of Goodyear, Arizona; Michele (Rick) Eberl of Grand Island; Rick (Diane) Haussler of Denver; Marci (Grady) Peace, of Greensboro, NC; and Phil (Stacey) Haussler, of Omaha.

Fourteen great grandchildren also survive Lelia: Emily (Eric) McCaslin-Hahn of Star, Idaho; Cai (Leah) McCaslin of Denver; Makala Haussler of New York City; Grant Haussler of Seattle; Hannah (Devon) Schmidt and Katie (Blake) Cadwalader, all of Grand Island; Rylie Haussler of Houston; Connor Haussler of Chicago; and Alaina Haussler of Denver; Lia and Emme Peace of Greensboro, NC; and McCoy, Lincoln, and Grady Haussler, all of Omaha. Lelia also has six step-grandchildren: Jimi Brown of Lincoln; Logan (Nik) Stevenson of Martell, NE, Bayne (McKenzie) Sieck and Mason Sieck, all from Lincoln; Jayden Mora and Carson Mora, both of Denver.

As with those few who live as long as Lelia has, she also is survived by two great, great grandchildren, Olivia McCaslin-Hahn of Star, Idaho and Atley Schmidt of Grand Island; and five great, great step-grandchildren, Trynity Brown and Eden Hamel of Lincoln; Tucker and Hollyn Stevenson of Martell; and Sawyer Sieck of Lincoln.

Her sister, Lucetta Andrews, and several cousins, many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and lots of friends also survive Lelia. (Since Lelia was so involved in genealogy, she would think it is important to list all relatives!)

Lelia's passing has left a void in the hearts of family and friends and many others whose lives were touched by her. Although Lelia's physical presence may no long grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us all!

Special thanks to all the staff at both Prairie Pines in Arapahoe and Elwood Care Center in Elwood for all the good care she has had over the past few years!