HELEN CUKA

Funeral Mass for Helen Cuka, 89, of Wagner was held Thursday, January 10 at the Assumption Catholic Church in Dante. Burial was in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, rural Dante. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

Helen A. Cuka, the daughter of Joseph and Helen (Klufa) Stastny, was born August 22, 1929 in Wagner. She died Sunday, January 6, 2019 at the Armour Care and Rehabilitation Center in Armour.

Helen graduated from Ravinia High School in 1948. She received her Teaching Certificate from Southern State College in Springfield.

Helen was united in marriage to Leonard Cuka on June 6, 1950 at St. John Catholic Church in Wagner. Three children were blessed to their union. Together they farmed southwest of Dante. She also taught country school at Lawrence #53 for a few years. She later worked as a cook at the Heritage Court, the Good Samaritan Center and the Wagner Hospital. They moved into Wagner in 1993. She moved into the Armour Care and Rehabilitation Center in March of 2014.

Helen was a member of the Assumption Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, VFW Auxiliary, Modern Woodmen and Pinochle Club. She also taught Catechism for many years.

Helen will be remembered for her love of cooking and baking and sharing her baked goods with everyone. She will be especially remembered for her pies. Helen also loved to play scrabble, pinochle and enjoyed bowling. She was a very good seamstress.

Thankful for having shared her life are her sons Mark and wifeRobbinandGerardandwife Sharon Cuka, all of Wagner; 14 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; eight brothers and sisters: Joe Stastny of Lennox, Dorothy Cuka, Agnes Kokesh, John Stastny, Tony (Donna) Stastny, all of Wagner, Anne (Jerry) Wagner of Pierre, Rose (Dennis) Koupal of Wagner and Martha (Pat) Uecker of Rapid City; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Leonard on September 8, 2017; daughter Mary Kay Thaler; four brothers and sisters: Alice Kokesh, Mildred Cap, and Mary and Franklin, who died in infancy; four brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law.