Helen Skala

Kearney resident, 91

KEARNEY - Helen Skala, 91, of Kearney, formerly of the Gibbon area, died Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelton with the Rev. James Janovec officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery north of Gibbon.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at the church with a vigil at 7 p.m.
O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home - Miller Godberson Chapel in Gibbon is in charge of arrangements.
She was born Feb. 6, 1922, north of Shelton to Frank and Anna (Klinkacek) Hanousek.

She married Fred C. Skala. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include her son, James "Jim" and his wife, Wilma, of Gibbon; daughter-in-law, Becky Skala of Kearney; grandchildren, Randy Skala and his wife, Renee, Kristi Milks and her husband, Alan, and Jeff Skala and his wife, Amanda, all of Gibbon, Dan Skala and his wife, Kelly, of Manhattan, Kan., and Jamie Jurgensen and her husband, Kenton, of Omaha, great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Jake and Beau Skala of Kearney, Chad Skala of Manhattan, Macy and Ryan Milks and Bailee Skala, all of Gibbon, and Barrett and Brayden Jurgensen of Omaha.
She attended rural schools in the Shelton area. She and Fred were married at Prairie Center Catholic Church northeast of Kearney. Helen and Fred made their home on a farm north of Gibbon. For many years, she worked at the Nebraska Turkey Growers processing plant in Gibbon and helped on the family farm.

Helen loved and enjoyed her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved playing games with them and teaching them a few Bohemian words. She will be long remembered for the many afghans she crocheted for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.

Helen enjoyed many hours of card playing and was usually a winner. Entertainment for her was watching the Kansas City Royals baseball games and the Cornhuskers play football on TV. Feeding and watching the squirrels was a daily must. Her collection of squirrels reflected her passion for them.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelton.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; son, Dave; brothers, Louie and Ed Hanousek; and sister, Blanche Eickhoff.
Memorials are suggested to the Gibbon Fire Department or Hearthside Cottage in Gibbon.

Visit osrfh.com to submit online condolences.