Frances Lorraine "Fran" Kucera

Frances "Fran" Lorraine Davis Jesina Kucera, 89, of Toledo, passed away September 17, 2025 at the Independence Village in Waukee. Private Graveside Services will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. There will be a Public Celebration of Life on Friday, October 3, 2025 from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM at the Wieting Theatre Event Center, 101 S. Church St. in Toledo. Frances "Fran" Lorraine Davis Jesina Kucera Born October 3rd, 1935 to Fay Davis and Geneva Lorraine Houdyshell Davis Smith in Tama, Iowa. She grew up in Tama and had great adventures (oh, the stories!) in a family of 7 children and loved to roller skate and go dancing. She lived in Albert Lea, Minnesota during what would have been her Junior year and came back to Tama to graduate high school. Fran married Glen Louis Jesina on April 8th, 1957. They first made their home in Ferguson, then moved to Toledo, Iowa. They bought their forever home in 1968 where they raised their family and Glen "loved the shit out of her" (yes, his exact words). Fran adored children and was a frequent before and after school babysitter. She loved all the one-on-one time that she had with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When her youngest started school, Fran started working for the STC School District in the lunch room. After retiring from the school, she worked for a bit at the Meskwaki Casino. After Glen passed away on July 1, 2004, Fran leaned on her friends and family and learned to live on her own. Tired of being isolated and lonely, she took a part time job as a waitress at Big T in Toledo. It was that waitressing position that put her in the path of Ernest Kucera of Toledo. He was smitten with her in high school, but never had the courage to ask her to go on a date (as she was older than he was by a couple of years). Since they had both lost their spouses, there was a spark that turned into a beautiful love story and Fran and Ernie were married on December 12th, 2012. They were so cute together and loved each other dearly. Ernie passed away on March 26th, 2025, leaving Fran heart broken and alone again. She moved to assisted living at Independence Village in Waukee, Iowa on August 5th, 2025 after a fall in early June that kept her hospitalized until the end of July. Fran loved her pets Kitty Mo, Bimbo, Mela, Molly, Jaws, Ariel, and her last cat Sunny, who lived to be 21. Glen and Fran were always having dance parties or card nights at their house, any excuse to get together with friends or family. Sunday dinners with family were expected. Either at her house or theirs, Sundays were spent with family. Family reunions at her mom and step-dad's in Coralville were always large events with so many kids running around being crazy while the adults visited and caught up. Just like her mom, she adored Elvis and really, almost all music. She loved playing PacMan and would stay up until the wee hours of the morning trying to beat that! She was an amazing seamstress and loved to knit until her hands wouldn't allow her to any more. Her favorite things to bake were banana bread and apple pies. She became an expert at canning and freezing all the plentiful produce that Glen grew in their back yard garden. Her door was always open for friends and neighbors to drop by for a visit. She was an amazing sister, wife, mom, aunt and friend. She was preceded in death by her Mother, her Father and her Step-Father Guy Smith Sr., Sisters Alma and Barbara, Brothers Carol and Wendall, Husband Glen Jesina and Husband Ernest Kucera. She is survived by: Sister Julia Calhoun of Coralville, Iowa, Brother Roland Davis of Stockton, California, and Ben Davis of Waipahu, Hawaii. 4 Children: Bob & Robyn Brones, Lori & Kerry Copple, Lynn Wilson and Nicole & Jason Miltenberger 14 Grandchildren: Heather & Charles Berry, Micah & Cammie Copple, Joy & Matthew Frick, Anna & Nate Fenton, Luke & Madison Copple, Bethany Copple, Zach Brannen, Kit Brannen, Avery Brannen, Keaton & Matraisa Wilts-Babcock, Adrian Mathison, Tyler Brones & Kara LaRae, Nicole & Ian Larsh, Lucas Brones & Felicia Hardy. 15 Great Grandchildren: Devon Berry, Deakon Berry, Elizabeth Copple, Levi Copple, Margaret Frick, Victoria Frick, Josephine Frick, Lydia Frick, Abigail Fenton, Joan Fenton, Henry Copple, Amelia Copple, Tanner Mathison, Parker Larsh, Carson Larsh. And many, many, many treasured and loved nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. So many have said Aunt Fran was their favorite and shared the wonderful memories of their time spent together. In honor and memory of Fran, please be kind. Be real. Be sincere. Smile. Give a hug. Lend a hand. Carry a burden. Help your neighbor. Help a stranger. Open doors for others. Offer praise or thanks for a job well done or attempted. Acknowledge and appreciate the effort. Say "it's ok" instead of getting angry. Remember to be gentle with others and yourself. Laugh at the silly things. Make a joke. Tell a funny story. Call a friend and tell them they matter. Appreciate the moment. Make lasting memories with those you care for. She was the kindest and sweetest soul. Let's all try to be more like Fran and make the world a better place. She would like that.