Donna Sue ZielkeGreat Bend, KS

Donna Sue Zielke, 65, of Great Bend, Kansas, passed away May 23, 2026, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, Wichita. She was born May 4, 1961, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Elmer and Bertha (Classen) Zielke. Donna has resided in Great Bend since 2013, formerly of Sterling and Minneola, Kansas. She graduated from Minneola High School, with the class of 1979 and attended Sterling College. Donna was a supervisor for Rice County Council on Aging in Lyons and was director for Silver Threads in Sterling for many years. She was a member of Countryside Baptist Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. Donna enjoyed her family very much, they were her pride and joy! She also enjoyed decorating her apartment, re-doing furniture, listening to Southern Gospel music and spoiling her dog, Bailey, were at the top of Donna’s favorite things to do. She also enjoyed arts and crafts, cooking, and family gatherings. On July 10, 1981, Donna married Ronald Corwin in Sterling. They later divorced. In 2012, Donna married Donald M. “Junior” Nelson. He preceded her in death on January 31, 2023. She is also preceded in death by her parents. Donna is survived by her four children, Amy Smith and husband Spencer of Sterling, KS, Ashley Corwin of Hutchinson, KS, Andrea Ketch of Great Bend, KS, and Ryan Corwin and wife Samantha of Sterling, KS; brother, Robert Zielke and wife Kirsten of Fowler, KS; nine grandchildren, Kalyssa, Kaelyn, Kooper, Ezra, Tucker, Joshua, Madison, Bravely, and Adventure; nephew, Zane Zielke of Brooklyn, NY; and her beloved dog, Bailey. Funeral service will be at 3:00 P.M., Friday, May 29, 2026, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with Pastor Joel Grizzle officiating. Burial will follow at the Sterling Community Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. until service time with family present. Memorials may be given to Rice County Council on Aging in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.