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Obituary
Norma Karel was born on July 6, 1924, to Adolph and Agnes (Hradec) Jindra on the farmstead. She passed away on the morning of Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, NE after enjoying a healthy, active life for 93 years, 10 months and 6 days.
Norma grew up near Clarkson, Nebraska and graduated from Clarkson High School as a member of the Class of 1940.
She met and later married Frank J. Karel on April 22, 1947, a union that would result in the birth of two daughters-Kathleen and Cynthia. After farming for many years, Norma and Frank would leave the farm in 1964 to own and operate Karel's Station on the northeast corner of the Highway 15 and Highway 32 intersection. From there, they would operate a bar/restaurant with a gas station, from which Frank would deliver fuel to farmers. Norma handled the cooking duties and plenty of socializing as well.
In 1990, Norma and Frank sold the Station and moved to Bee, Nebraska. Norma would commute to Seward, working as a cook for Seward Public Schools and Heartland Park Senior Living Community thereafter. After Frank's death in 1996 and Kathy's retirement in 2006, Norma would join Kathy and live in an acreage west of Lincoln to be closer to Cynthia and her grandchildren.
For those who knew Norma best, she could be described as youthful, hardworking, exuberant, loving and probably a bit stubborn. Up until her death, Norma enjoyed mowing her property, maintaining her oversized garden and going for a ride on her golf cart with her dog as a co-pilot and any grandchildren that wanted to join. Although unconfirmed, her likely list of favorite words would include togetherness and pivo (Czech word for beer), both aligned with her social nature and Czech spirit. She was "grandma" to most who knew her.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Agnes; her husband, Frank; her siblings, Adolph Jr., Tony, Emil, Edward, Wilma, Longin, Jimmy and Edwin; and her daughter, Kathy.
She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Lewallen of Lincoln, NE; her grandson, Nathan McKown, wife Ashley and daughters Kathleen and Finley of Ashland, NE; her granddaughter, Megan McKown of Omaha, NE and fiance Gary Ware; grandson, Justin Lewallen, wife Michelle and daughters Olivia and Elayna of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter, Krystal Rogge, husband Mark, and a baby boy expected in July, of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter, Kylie Bangert, husband Travis and sons Aiden, Brecken and daughter Blakely of Lincoln, NE; granddaughter, Kaila Steinkuhler, husband Baker, along with a new arrival expected in October, of Gothenburg, NE; and her beloved miniature schnauzer, Buddy. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Norma.
Norma grew up near Clarkson, Nebraska and graduated from Clarkson High School as a member of the Class of 1940.
She met and later married Frank J. Karel on April 22, 1947, a union that would result in the birth of two daughters-Kathleen and Cynthia. After farming for many years, Norma and Frank would leave the farm in 1964 to own and operate Karel's Station on the northeast corner of the Highway 15 and Highway 32 intersection. From there, they would operate a bar/restaurant with a gas station, from which Frank would deliver fuel to farmers. Norma handled the cooking duties and plenty of socializing as well.
In 1990, Norma and Frank sold the Station and moved to Bee, Nebraska. Norma would commute to Seward, working as a cook for Seward Public Schools and Heartland Park Senior Living Community thereafter. After Frank's death in 1996 and Kathy's retirement in 2006, Norma would join Kathy and live in an acreage west of Lincoln to be closer to Cynthia and her grandchildren.
For those who knew Norma best, she could be described as youthful, hardworking, exuberant, loving and probably a bit stubborn. Up until her death, Norma enjoyed mowing her property, maintaining her oversized garden and going for a ride on her golf cart with her dog as a co-pilot and any grandchildren that wanted to join. Although unconfirmed, her likely list of favorite words would include togetherness and pivo (Czech word for beer), both aligned with her social nature and Czech spirit. She was "grandma" to most who knew her.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Agnes; her husband, Frank; her siblings, Adolph Jr., Tony, Emil, Edward, Wilma, Longin, Jimmy and Edwin; and her daughter, Kathy.
She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Lewallen of Lincoln, NE; her grandson, Nathan McKown, wife Ashley and daughters Kathleen and Finley of Ashland, NE; her granddaughter, Megan McKown of Omaha, NE and fiance Gary Ware; grandson, Justin Lewallen, wife Michelle and daughters Olivia and Elayna of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter, Krystal Rogge, husband Mark, and a baby boy expected in July, of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter, Kylie Bangert, husband Travis and sons Aiden, Brecken and daughter Blakely of Lincoln, NE; granddaughter, Kaila Steinkuhler, husband Baker, along with a new arrival expected in October, of Gothenburg, NE; and her beloved miniature schnauzer, Buddy. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Norma.
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Services
Funeral Service
May
16
New Zion Presbyterian Church
Starts at 11:00 am
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