Colleen F. Wachal

Colleen Faye (Novacek) Wachal, 89 years old of Schuyler, passed away October 30, 2024, at Fremont.

Memorials can be directed towards the Schuyler Cemetery, Schuyler Vol. Fire and Rescue, or Family Wishes.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 3,2024 from 4-6 p.m. at Svoboda Moravec Johnson Mortuary, 905 A Street, Schuyler, Nebraska. On Monday, November 4, 2024, there will be a visitation from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church, a rosary at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral services at 10:30 a.m. also at St. Mary’s Church and interment at Schuyler Cemetery. Funeral Lunch will follow at St. Mary’s Social Center. Svoboda Moravec Johnson is handling arrangements for Colleen’s family.

Colleen was born April 13, 1935, to Rudolph and Lula (Vavra) Novacek in Columbus, NE. She graduated in 1952 from Schuyler High School, Schuyler, Nebraska. Colleen was united in marriage to Richard R. Wachal on December 29, 1952, in Schuyler at St. Mary’s Church.

Colleen and Richard lived on a crop and livestock farm near Richland, Nebraska. She taught rural school one year then left teaching to work beside Richard on their farm. Besides farming and livestock production, she maintained a small milking cattle herd, raised broilers, ducks, and turkeys; and grew a large garden. Colleen loved to cook and bake for her family, play cards, and attend polka dances. They moved into Schuyler, July of 1999 where they hosted many family gatherings. Colleen and Richard were active members of St. Mary’s Church, where she was a long-time member of the St. Mary’s Guild, taught CCD, and she led St. Mary’s Rosary Crusades for many years.

She is survived by her children: son, Gary (Shirley) Wachal of Richland; daughters: Genelle (Roger) Kluck of Schuyler and Renee (Bill) Hancock of Wahoo; and daughter-in-law, Connie Wachal of David City; 13 grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren. Siblings include sisters Monica (Marvin) Marushak and Marilyn Kula, and brother in-law Lumir Brabec.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lula (Vavra) and Rudolph Novacek; husband, Richard R. Wachal; son, Richard D. Wachal; brother, Rudolph E. Novacek; sister, Patrica Brabec; and brother-in-law, Edward Kula.