Leonard J Kucera, Jr. 71, of Deweese passed away on Wednesday December 05, 2018 at the VA Nebraska Health Care Hospital in Grand Island. Leonard was born May 21, 1947 to Leonard and Esther (Kuhn) Kucera at Columbus, Ne. Baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Columbus.
Graduated from Columbus High School in 1965 and was inducted into the Army and served in Vietnam returning home August 1968. Leonard served with Distinction and Honor in C Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry. He was assigned to Headquarters Platoon as a mechanic.
It was SOP in C Troop that HQ personnel serve in line platoon operations and were crossed trained as scouts, infantrymen and tankers. That is how Leonard came to be associated with 1st Platoon. He opted for the 1st Platoon and was welcomed as a valued member of the “Red Platoon”.
So much so that he received the Bronze Star for Valor during TET while with the 1st Platoon on the line. Upon return he graduated from the University of Nebraska at Curtis, Ne. On March 27, 1971 married Colleen (Borwege) Kucera at the St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Blue Hill, Ne.
Retired after 35 years working at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in cattle operations at Clay Center, Ne. Here he met so many good lifetime friends. He was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings, Ne.
Even though there were no children he loved and enjoyed all of his nephews and nieces that he called his own. Wasn’t a dull moment keeping up with them all as he loved them dearly. He competed in bareback riding and was an excellent team roper and taught Colleen how to rope.
He loved to spend time fishing on the pontoon boat with his loving wife and their basset hounds. He so enjoyed attending his army reunions with his “Band of Brothers” every year. Those left to cherish his memory include: Wife: Colleen Kucera Sister: Darlene (Kenneth deceased) Ungles- Humphrey, Ne.
Sister: Lana (John) Jones Lincoln, Ne. Sister in Laws: Sharon (Derald deceased) Burgess Red Cloud, Ne. Bonnie (Larry) Vance Inavale, Ne.
Diane (Larry) Overy Pauline, Ne. Brother in Law: Norbert Scott (Sonja) Borwege Miltonvale, Ks. Host of Nephews and Nieces He was preceded in death by: Parents: Leonard and Esther Kucera Father and Mother in laws: Norbert and LaVona Borwege Brother in Laws: Larry Sanford, Norman Dey , Derald Burgess and Kenneth Ungles Niece: Tracy Jane Borwege Graveside service with military honors will be Saturday, 10:30 a.m., May 18, 2019 at the Blue Valley Cemetery at Ayr, Nebraska with the Rev.
Josh David officiating. The eulogy will be delivered by Jenny Richardson, Paige Felt and Cody Vance. There will be a time of fellowship and lunch immediately following the service at the Deweese Community Center.
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