Marlene Ann Stara was born the oldest child of James H. and Mary Barbara (Egr) Ruzek on November 16, 1936 in Prague, NE and passed away on May 12, 2018 in Seward, NE at the age of 81 years, 5 months, and 26 days.

Marlene graduated from Weston High School in 1954. After graduation, she worked at Saunders County ASC and in 1956 began employment with Stoops & Wilson Frozen Food Brokerage in Omaha.

On June 20, 1956, she was united in marriage to Donald R. Stara at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Valparaiso. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Audrey, Dale, Kim, Tim and Gary. They resided in Omaha until 1967, when they relocated to their farm near Bee. Marlene was a stay at home mom until 1984, when she went to work for ISCO, Inc. in Lincoln. In 1996, she began working as a contractor for the Immigration and Naturalization Services in Lincoln until her retirement in 2005. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Bee and was devoted to her faith.

Marlene's family was her legacy and she loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and she was a avid baker.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Don and five children and their spouses, Audrey Allen and husband Frank, Katy, TX, Dale Stara and wife Jerri, Dallas, TX; Kim Kobza and husband John, Bellwood, NE, Tim Stara and wife Jeanne, Ponca City, OK, and Gary Stara, Seward. Seven grandchildren, Eric Allen and wife Kasey, Edmond, OK, Sara Remm and husband Jordan, Omaha, Tyler Stara, Edmond, OK, Andrea Stara, Oklahoma City, OK, James Kobza and Jenna Kobza, Bellwood, NE, Nathan Stara, Dallas, TX, two great-grandchildren, James and Eleanor Allen; two siblings, Jeanie Trouba and husband Marvin, Lincoln, Judy Chuda and husband Larry, Lincoln, aunts and uncles, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and in-laws.