Mary Ann Podraza Kucera, of Osceola, Nebraska, passed away at the age of 90 years on July 20, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Society in Osceola. She was born near Duncan, Nebraska on July 7, 1935, to John and Adelaide (Jarecki) Podraza on the farm. Mary Ann attended grade school at St. Stanislaus school in Duncan. She graduated from St. Bonaventure high school in 1952.

She worked for Trans World Airlines after high school. Two years later, she joined St. Joseph’s convent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she lived in community life for 13 years. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Alverno College in Milwaukee and remained in nursing for 42 years. Mary Ann worked in pediatrics and medical/surgical nursing. She subsequently worked in Obstetrics and became supervisor of the department in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

Upon leaving the convent she moved to Omaha and became the Head Nurse in Obstetrics at Bergan Mercy Hospital. She later underwent specialized training in Cardiology and along with many other nurses helped Dr. Hugh Levin open the new Cardiac Unit at Bergan Mercy.

While at Bergan Mercy she met her husband, Bill, and they were married in 1969 at St. Bonaventure’s Church in Columbus, Nebraska. They later moved to Osceola, Nebraska where they farmed and raised hogs.

Right after their marriage, Mary Ann taught at Platte College where she was one of the original instructors and helped develop the new LPN program headed by Mrs. Mary Lou Holmberg. She continued to teach obstetrics in the summers for several years.

Mary Ann enjoyed 12 years at Annie Jeffrey Memorial Hospital. Later she became director of the Polk County Health Department and ended her career at Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg, Nebraska. Mary Ann taught CPR in association with the Polk County Health Department in high schools in Polk County until retirement. Mary Ann served on the board of the Four Corners Health Department and the Polk County Health Department.

She was a member of St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Osceola, St. Vincent’s Altar Society, worked at the Annie Jeffrey Thrift Shop, did Meals on Wheels and recited the Rosary at the Good Samaritan Center on Fridays.

Bill and Mary Ann had two children, Ian Kucera (Michelle Kucera, spouse and children Haley, Cole and Meredith) of Topeka, Kansas and Sarah Campana (Chris, spouse and daughter Lauren) of San Antonio, Texas.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband Bill Kucera, who passed away May 6, 2015; parents, John and Adelaide Podraza; her parents-in-law, Bill and Helen Kucera; her sisters, Elvena (Ed) Bronson, Virginia (Russ) Peterson, Lillian (Hank) Cave, and is survived by her sister Rose Johnson, her children Ian (Michelle) and Sarah (Chris); her grandchildren Haley, Lauren, Cole, and Meredith as well as many cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.

After Bill passed away Mary Ann spent her winters with her daughter and son-in-law in San Antonio, Texas. Her summers were spent in Osceola, and Topeka, Kansas spending time with her grandchildren in Topeka and at the lake.

A visitation will be held at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 631 South Street, Osceola, Nebraska 68651 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23 followed by a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held the following day at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 24th at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church with Father Allan Phan officiating. Musical selections will be “How Great Thou Art”, “One Bread, One Body”, “Song of Farewell”, and “Be Not Afraid.” Pallbearers will be Ted Johnson, Mark Erhart, Tim Johansen, Russ Peterson, Cole Kucera and Jerry Johnson. Inurnment will take place in the Osceola Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials to the Annie Jeffrey Thrift Shop or St. Vincent’s Catholic Church may be sent to 7800 SW Huntoon Street, Topeka, Kansas 66615.

Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg has been entrusted with arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome.com