Colleen Marie Levitan

Levitan, Colleen Marie of Beavercreek OH, passed peacefully, surrounded by her family and loved ones, on April 28, 2016, at age 71, after an 18 month fight with Pancreatic Cancer. Born March 20, 1945 in Ft. Wayne IN to Mother Betty Deller (adoptive father Thomas Bruckse, and second husband Ray Simpkins) and Father Edward Leonidas Cassady, Colleen graduated from Wright State University in 1976 with a Degree in Art Education. She was a nationally recognized Watercolor Artist and Portrait Sculptor. She will be remembered most by her family for her special holiday gatherings, with food, fabulous desserts and pies, and beautiful décor. No one ever left Colleen’s table hungry. She was a lover of the outdoors and her flower garden, but most important to her was her passion for time spent water skiing at Rocky Fork Lake. From May to October her schedule was organized to get maximum time on her slalom ski. Colleen is survived by her husband James Gruber, Mother Betty Deller, Children; Lynne Cherkaoui–Burley (George) and Michael Dunham (Lisa), Step-Children; James Gruber (April) and Sara Cooper (Sean), Siblings ; Alan Cassady and Dan Cassady, Karen Hale, Laura Bradley, Tommy Bruckse Jr. (deceased), and Matt Bruckse, grandchildren; Joy Robinson(Broadus), Andrew Pefley (Robin), Gail Gonzalez, Ryan Dunham, Cody Dunham, Eli Dunlavy, Austin Gruber, Aric Gruber, Allison Gruber , Jackie Crutcher and Damien Womble, and great grandchild Grayson Blythe. Friends may call from 6-8 PM on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at Tobias Funeral Home, 3970 Dayton Xenia Rd, Beavercreek, OH 45432. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 411 E 2nd St, Dayton, OH 45402 on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 10 AM, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery, 1625 Calvary Ave, Dayton, OH 45409. Condolences for the family can be made at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com