Cecelia A. Kotschwar

Cecelia Alberta Kotschwar

April 16, 1924 - Aug. 27, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. — Cecelia Alberta Kotschwar passed away Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, at Hillcrest Nursing Home surrounded by her family. She was 94 years old.

Cece was born on April 16, 1924, in Decatur County, Kan., on the family farm to parents, Albert Nicholas and Martha Amanda (Gilleece) Hickert. She was the oldest of 12 siblings. Cece attended grade school at Lone Star Rural School and graduated from Oberlin High School in 1943. She continued her education at St. Joseph’s College for Nursing of Concordia, Kan. After graduation from nurse training, she became a part of the U.S. World War II Cadet Nursing Corps. The Cadet Nurses were the largest and youngest group of uniformed women to serve their country.

On Nov. 10, 1948, she was united in marriage to Vernon Lynn “Bud” Kotschwar at New Almelo, Kan. The marriage was blessed with eight children. They made their home in McCook, where Cece was a busy mother and homemaker. She continued her nursing career working at St. Catherine’s Hospital and later at McCook Community Hospital, a career that lasted 42 years of service in the medical field.

Cece was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Altar Society and VFW Auxiliary. She volunteered countless hours of service to the Bargain Bazaar, St. Patrick’s Fall Festival, local bloodmobile, gave rides to whomever needed transportation, Bingo at Hillcrest, and selling poppies. She was always there supporting her children in whatever activity they were involved in, as well as her grandchildren’s functions. Her hobbies included bowling, crocheting, collecting windmills, word search games, and watching game shows.

Preceding Cecelia in death were her parents, Albert and Amanda Hickert; her husband, Bud Kotschwar; daughter, Karin Kotschwar and four infant babies; sons-in-law, Leo Miller and Tom Bernard; brothers, James, William and Robert Hickert; sisters and their husbands, Hillaria (Joy) Huff, Iolene (Frances) Lavendofsky, Bertilla (Tom) Conroy and Carolyn Hickert; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bernard Farrell, Delbert Roth, Laurine (Paul) Channel, Ruth (Bob) Vieth, Jackie (Charlie) Boehm, Shirley (Fred) Slack, Thelma (Jack) Duckworth, Don (Nel) Kotschwar, Stanley “Jiggs” (Pat) Kotschwar, Wayne Ely, Phyllis (Bob) Traphagan, Phyllis Kotschwar, and Alice (Paul) Carlson; grandchildren, great-granddaughter; nieces and nephews.

Those to mourn her passing are children, Diane Miller of Lincoln, Joanne Bernard of Grand Island, Ron (Sheryl) Kotschwar of McCook, Mike (Sandy) Kotschwar of Omaha, Alan (Jeannine) Kotschwar of McCook, Marian (Barry) Richards of Hayes Center and Tim (Connie) Kotschwar of Minden; 21 grandchildren, Travis (Krissa) Miller, Amanda (CJ) Green, Colin (Jessica) Miller, Katie (Adam) Buss, Nick (Julie) Bernard, Mary Sue Haag, Jeff (Karen) White, Janeen Gill, Steven (Carrie) Kotschwar, Stephanie (Kyle) Holmgren, Brett (Sarah) Kotschwar, Nathan (Jamie) Kotschwar, Adam (Nichole) Kotschwar, Brandon (Shanna) Kotschwar, Derek (Alicia) Richards, Zac (Cayla) Richards, Beau Richards, Melonie Kotschwar, Jessica (Sam) Hansen and Jennifer Kotschwar; 30 great-grandchildren; sisters, Wilma Farrell of Denver, Colo., Donna Roth of Marion, Iowa, and Marilyn (Marion) Otter of New Almelo, Kan.; brother, Don Hickert of Indianola; sisters-in-law, Laverna Ely and Claudine Hickert, both of McCook; brother-in-law, Kent Kotschwar of McCook; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of family and friends.

Memorials may be given in her name to St. Patrick’s Altar Society or Olivia Meixner Cancer Fund.

Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel, from 10 a.m. until time of Rosary, that will be recited at 7 p.m. Friends may go online at www.herrmannfh.com to extend words of comfort to the family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, McCook, with Father Gary Brethour as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.