Donna Kucera

Donna (Pankonin) Kucera was born January 16, 1949, during the blizzard of '49, to her parents Alfred and Leora (Schoff) Pankonin. Donna graduated from Grant High School in 1967. She was married to Donald Lee Kucera until his passing on March 24, 2007. She resided at their home West of Grant until she had to be moved to Indian Hills Manor in Ogallala, where she passed on June 24, 2025.

Donna loved animals, they were her hobby and her livelihood. Donna was the leader of the 4-H Trail Riders Club for several years. Donna and Don were the Odds & Ends banner carriers at many local parades. She also took her smaller animals to many petting zoos in the area, and to nursing homes to brighten the days of many patients. Donna never had children of her own, but she was the one that bottle fed likely 1,000+ calves, lambs and goats! She loved attending livestock sales, and they knew her well and gave her many animals that no one else wanted...she would nurse them back to life if possible.

Donna's kind and joyful personality was a blessing to her friends and family. She had a hard life, missed her parents terribly, but seldom (if ever) complained.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don Kucera, and her brother Dennis Pankonin.

She is survived by her friends; neighbors; one niece Debra Arrick (Rick); her former sister-in-law, Nancy (Jim) Palmer, all of Brighton, Co.; Don's children George (Kwei) Kucera of North Platte, Sharon (Doug) Tatum of Grant, and Stephanie Odvarka of Lincoln.

A Memorial service will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church south of Ogallala on Friday, August 1, at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor John Dickmander officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. A reception will follow in the Trinity Lutheran Fellowship Hall. Online Condolences may be offered at www.prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.