Joe Kafka

Joseph F Kafka of West Point age 99 passed away October 31, 2025 at Franciscan Health Care in West Point. His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on November 4th, 2025 at the Holy Cross Catholic Catholic Church in Beemer. Officiating his son-in-law Brian Thomas who is an ordained Deacon of the Catholic Church. Interment with Military Honors will be in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Beemer American Legion Hall. Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Wake Service at 7:00 p.m., and will continue on Tuesday one hour prior to the service, all at the church. Minnick Funeral Home in West Point is assisting with the arrangements.

Joseph was born March 25, 1926 at Dodge, Nebraska to Joseph R. and Helen (Faltin) Kafka. He grew up on the family farm East of Beemer Nebraska and graduated from Beemer High School.

Joseph enlisted into the Air Force during World War 2. His service included at the end of the war working as an air traffic controller in Frankfurt Germany alongside the British and German air traffic controllers. He was called back into the Air Force during the Korean War and served for one year

In 1953 he married Kathryn (Toby) English on April 18th. He first worked at Hormel Meats in Fremont Nebraska and later farmed East of Beemer.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents Joseph R. and Helen Kafka, brother Edward Kafka, sister-Adella Beck, his wife Kathryn (Toby) Kafka and son Thomas Kafka.

His survivors include his daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Brian Thomas of Papillion, Nebraska, their son and daughter-in-law Noah and Makinsey Thomas and his great-grandson Krew Joseph Thomas of Fremont Nebraska.

Survivors also include his son and daughter-in-law Joseph Kafka and Deborah Siebrandt of San Jose, CA. Their daughter and son-in-law Lauren Kafka Hamm and Scott Hamm of San Jose, CA as well as their daughter Karajo Kafka of San Diego, CA.

Joseph loved life to the fullest and got much joy out of driving his red pickup, going to the Sunshine Senior Center for lunch, checking out the crops on the original Kafka farmland and hearing about his grandson and granddaughters. He was very proud of his grandson Noah who is a John Deere certified repair person and his granddaughters who are engineers.

The family would like to thank Hospice especially nurse Penny Mrsny and the aids for their loving care of Joseph at his home. Instead of flowers, the family respectfully requests that you donate to Franciscan Health Care Hospice 430 North Monitor, West Point Nebraska 68788 or the Sunshine Senior Citizen Center 140 West Bridge, West Point Nebraska 68788.