Elaine Kay Kapustka

Elaine Kay Kapustka

Dec. 21, 1945 - July 1, 2021

OMAHA, Neb. — Elaine Kay Kapustka, aged 75, passed away on July 1, 2021 at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha. Her children were with her at the time of her death.

Kay was born Dec. 21, 1945, to John and Jaunita (Meier) Connely in Broken Bow, Neb. She was the youngest of three children. She and her family lived on a farm in Custer County, Neb., and Kay loved her rural upbringing that included horses, cattle, farming, and lots of time with her extended family.

Kay attended the Rose Valley Country School from kindergarten through seventh grade, and then attended Broken Bow High School in Broken Bow. She graduated in 1964. After graduation, she attended the Hastings Beauty School in Hastings, Neb.

She met Gary Kapustka at Broken Bow High School, but began dating him after she claims she won him in a poker game after graduation. She and Gary were married on Aug. 19, 1967, in Broken Bow.

On June 22, 1968, a daughter, Kimberly Ellen Kapustka, was born, followed by a son, Gregory Richard Kapustka, born May 7, 1971. Kay and Gary settled with their children in Cambridge, Neb., where Kay worked as a cosmetologist at several salons, including her own business known as Kay’s Kut and Kurl.

Kay was very active in the community. She was a 4-H sponsor, community theater actor, a member of the United Methodist Church, a volunteer with the local food bank and assisted in helping with community events involving youth and the elderly.

Kay and her husband, Gary, also sponsored a total of four foreign exchange students from the countries of Japan, France, Germany, and Denmark.

After her husband retired from teaching at Cambridge High School, they relocated to Omaha, Neb. There, Kay spent her time with family, played chauffer to her grandchildren, did home day care, and enjoyed meeting people and making friends everywhere she went.

Her husband, Gary, passed away on June 30, 2016. After his death, Kay moved back to Cambridge for a year, then moved to the Maple Ridge Retirement Community in Omaha, where she was known as the puzzle lady, an unofficial ambassador for the facility, and for her love of playing the card game Pitch.

Kay is survived by her daughter Kim Keene, and son-in-law Richard, of Omaha; son, Greg Kapustka, and daughter-in-law Tanya of Cambridge; grandchildren, Billy Schnase and Haleigh Compton, Katie Schnase, Reilly Keene, Jordan Keene, and Skylar Keene, Carley Kapustka and Travis Houser, Jessica Moree and husband, Kody Moree, Aleisha Schnacker and husband, Kyle Schnacker, Lacee Allen and Christopher Staska, Ashley Walkington and Troy Troutman, Kayley Schwing and husband, David Schwing, and Danley Walkington; many beloved great grandchildren.

Funeral services are Friday, July 9, 2021, at 1 p.m., at the Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Kathy Salts will officiate. Burial will be at the Broken Bow Cemetery.

A memorial is being given in lieu of flowers to the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha.