DOROTHY CUKA

Funeral Mass for Dorothy Cuka, 87, of Wagner was Thursday, December 10 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wagner. Burial was in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, rural Wagner. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

Dorothy Mae Cuka was born June 17, 1933 at Wagner, the daughter of Joseph and Helen (Klufa) Stastny. She died Saturday, December 5, 2020 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Dorothy graduated as the Valedictorian of Ravinia High School in 1951. She graduated from the Southern State Teacher’s College in Springfield.

Dorothy was united in marriage to Edward Cuka on June 16,1953 in Wagner. Five children were blessed to their union.

Dorothy taught at country schools in Kennedy Twp until it closed, then in Lawrence Twp untilit closed. She then taught at the Wagner Community School until she retired from teaching full time. She continued to teach for several years as a substitute.

Dorothy was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, Altar Society, American Legion Auxiliary and the SDEA.

Dorothy willbe remembered for her love of square dancing, polka dancing, traveling, playing cards and visiting with friends and relatives. Dorothy loved to cook and will be especially remembered for her potato donuts and apple pie. Dorothy was very proud to host four exchange students and three refugee families through the years.

Thankful for having shared her life are her two sons: Bob (Deb) and Jim (Denise) of Wagner; daughter Angie (Sam) Fousek of Wagner; four grandchildren: Steven (Kasi) Fousek, Tracy (John) Blaha, all of Wagner, Bridget (Jake) Conway of Northfield, MN, and Nick (Colby) Fousek of Wagner; six great grandchildren: Ethan, Logan, Carson and Owen Blaha, and Wyatt and Harlow Conway; three brothers: Joe Stastny of Lennox, John Stastny of Wagner and Tony (Donna) Stastny of Wagner; four sisters: Agnes Kokesh of Wagner, Ann (Jerry) Wagner of Pierre, Rose (Dennis) Koupal of Wagner, and Martha (Pat) Uecker of Rapid City; and many relatives and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by husband Ed on October 20, 2010; son Tom in 1984 and infant son Donald; brother Franklin in infancy; sisters: Mary in infancy, Helen (Leonard) Cuka, Mildred (Victor) Cap and Alice (Clayton) Kokesh; and sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Stastny and Trudy Stastny.