Mary Kay Kucera

Mary Kay Kucera, 72, of Brainard, passed away on August 9, 2023 at Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, STATUES AND PLANTS: Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

As a woman of faith, Mary Kay prayed the rosary regularly and would like to celebrate the immortality promised by Jesus Christ. Rosary will be held August 16th, 2023 at 7 pm with a visitation from 5-7 pm at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Brainard, NE


Mary Kay Miller was born May 11, 1951 to Mary Ellen (Berney) Miller and Gervin O. Miller in Grand Island, NE. She grew up on a farm near Belgrade and attended District #29 country school until 8th grade. She graduated from Cedar Rapids High School in 1969. She attended Kearney State College, went to St Francis School of Nursing, and graduated receiving her diploma of nursing as an RN. As a registered nurse she began her career at Lincoln General in the ICU.

While attending a basketball game at East Butler High School with her nursing school friend, she met Gary L. Kucera. They corresponded while Gary was in the Marine Corps. When he returned, they married on November 2, 1974 in Cedar Rapids, NE. They built their life together on a family farm near Brainard, NE. She started working at Butler County Health Care Center in 1975 and continued there for 38 years. She was a passionate nurse working with all ages including labor and delivery, emergency room visits, children, and the elderly. She touched so many lives through her nursing career. She worked to support her husband’s hobby, farming. Though the years of farming were not always kind, she never let her faith and spirit diminish. She cared so deeply for the people around her.

Mary Kay was an avid quilter gifting many to family and friends. She enjoyed going to quilt shops and looking at other quilts. She loved music and taught herself to play guitar. She always had records or music on in the house. She went to several concerts throughout her life. She loved chocolates and ice cream. She would have ice cream for her meal at times. She also enjoyed reading books, especially murder mysteries. She had many traveling adventures with her family. There were yearly family vacations including Yellowstone, Disneyland in southern California, South Padre Island in Texas, and white-water rafting in Colorado, among others. Gary and Mary Kay traveled all over the US later in life especially to places their kids lived. Spending time with her grandchildren warmed her soul. One of her proudest accomplishments in life was her 3 children: Alicia, Aaron, and Karynn. Gary and Mary Kay have 4 grandchildren Aurora, Hannah, Clifford, and August. She was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, colleague and friend.

She is survived by husband, Gary L. Kucera; daughter: Alicia (Dan) Theilen, son: Aaron Kucera, daughter: Karynn (Joseph) Garvey, grandchildren Aurora Theilen, Hannah Theilen, Clifford Garvey, and August Garvey, brothers: James (Betty) Miller, Larry (Mary Jo) Miller

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Ellen Miller and Gervin O Miller and an infant brother.



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