CARL “LEE” STURVE
A graveside service for Carl “Lee” Struve was held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, NE with Mr. Kenneth Schoen officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team.
Carl “Lee” Struve passed away on January 14, 2026, one day before his 87th birthday, at his home in Lincoln, NE. Lee was born on January 15, 1939, at Brewster Hospital in Holdrege, Nebraska, the only child of Carl L. Struve and Winona Mabel (Fletcher) Struve of Oxford.
Lee attended Oxford High School, where he played football, baseball, and track. He graduated from high school in 1956, and went on to attend Nebraska Wesleyan College in Lincoln, NE.
Lee was drafted into the Army in 1962 and went to Fort Leonard Wood, TX. He was honorably discharged in 1964.
He then came back to Nebraska and finished his liberal arts degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1965.
In 1966, Lee began his career with St. Paul Insurance as a claims adjuster. He met Cheryll Kunkel in January 1967, and the two were married on July 23, 1967.
Together they raised two sons: Patrick and Jason. Lee continued to work for St. Paul Insurance for 20 years - eight years in Grand Island, before moving his family to Lincoln, NE in 1974, where he continued with the company for another 12 years as a claims manager. Lee moved on to Cornhusker Casualty and Tri-State Insurance Company to finish out his career in the insurance industry.
Lee was an avid golfer, starting around the age of 30 and into his late seventies. He belonged to the Lincoln Men’s Golf Association and played golf four days a week for the better part of four decades. He also enjoyed watching his sons participate in summer and high school athletics.
Lee was a conversationalist. He was always friendly and engaged with his son’s friends, as well as, strangers he encountered, whether on the golf course or at a restaurant.
Lee was preceded in death by: his father Carl L. Struve; and Mother Winona Mabel (Fletcher) Struve.
He leaves behind: his wife Cheryll (Kunkel) Struve; two sons: Patrick (Lorrie) of Lincoln; and Jason (Kathleen) of Gretna; and four grandchildren: Dalton, Riley, Gavin and Malia.
There will not be a visitation or viewing.
Lee is finding rest in the Oxford Cemetery, which overlooks his family farm.
A memorial has been established in Lee’s honor, and kindly suggested to the family for future designation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at HYPERLINK “http://www.nelsonbauerfh. com” www.
nelsonbauerfh.com The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.
