Verna L. Piska

Memorial Services for Verna L. Piska will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr., officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Verna Lee (Butzin) Piska, 82 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the CHI Health - Good Samaritan in Kearney, surrounded by all her children, and grandchildren. Verna was born November 11, 1935 at Colorado Springs, Colorado, the eldest of two daughters born to Vernon and Vivian (Land) Butzin. She received her primary education in Oxford, and then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1954.

On September 17, 1954, she was united in marriage to Joseph Donald Piska. To this union six children were born: Michaele (Micki), Cotty, Steven, Robert, Cheryl, and JoLee. The family made their home south of Holdrege, where Verna helped Joe run his farming operation. She was later employed by Becton Dickinson of Holdrege, where she retired after 30 years of employment.

Verna enjoyed spending time with all her children, and grandchildren. She also loved cooking, and cake decorating. She and her daughter, Cotty made many wedding cakes together over the years before she took up her passion for sewing, and making quilts. She and Novita Negley, someone she considered as a daughter, made each of her children, and grandchildren quilts. Together they made hundreds of quilts which were gifted to various charities in need. Verna loved the outdoors. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, traveling, and taught her youngest daughter how to play the organ.

Verna taught everyone how to love unconditionally, and how to be a selfless person.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Steven Piska Haack; and one sister, Barbara.

Verna leaves to celebrate and honor her memory; her six children: Micki Schultz and her husband, Bill of Orleans, Nebraska; Cotty Bruntz and her husband, Bryon of Holdrege; Steve Piska of Wichita, Kansas; Robert Piska and his wife, Cathy of Holdrege; Cheryl Huxoll and her husband, Mike of Hendley, Nebraska; and JoLee McClymont and her husband, Kirk of Las Vegas, Nevada; her fourteen grandchildren: Sheila, Shelly, Keegan, Kaleb, Kaden, Dakota, Cooper, Tayler, Tarren, Trace, Tustin, Tanner, Lyndsey, and Emerson; three great-grandchildren: Brett, Tayleigh, and Aubrey; and a host of people she adopted along the way.

There will be no visitation, or memorial book signing; the family is honoring her wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Verna's honor, and kindly suggested to the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements