Marian Kuker, age 92, of Amarillo, TX passed peacefully at Brookdale Sleepy Hollow Senior Living surrounded by family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle, IA on July 8, 2024 at 10:00 AM. The Celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Music will be presented by soloists Meghan Gonzalez, Tara Kuker, and Mandy Kuker along with the Holy Angels Choir. Gift Bearers will be Erin Ronald, Whitney Kuker, and Cesilee Kuker. Bearer of the Ashes will be Karl & Nancy Kuker. Honorary Pall Bearers will be Sharon and Curt Heidt, Kristy and Jeff Blank, Kenny and Shelly Kuker, Lisa and Rod Kieschnick, and Kiki and Darren Huls. Eucharistic Ministers will be Curt and Sharon Heidt. A rosary led by Tara Kuker will be said one hour prior to the service.
Born on March 25, 1932, on the family farm by Roselle, IA, Marian was the daughter of Edward and Mary Frances (Venteicher) Renze. She attended Holy Angels Catholic School, and in 1950 she graduated from St. Angela’s Academy in Carroll. While in school, Marian was able to see the transition from kerosene lamps to whole-house electricity which changed life on the farm forever.
On March 27, 1951, Marian was united in marriage to Evan Kuker at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle. The couple later moved to Pocahontas, IA where they raised six children and farmed. Marian was employed by Iowa Industrial where she performed key punch operations on the company’s first computers. Marian particularly enjoyed growing flowers, baking, and making their home beautiful for her family.
In 1976 the family moved to the Texas Panhandle to farm. Marian became employed by Cactus Feeders where she served as their first computer operator and performed accounting operations until her retirement. She always expressed her gratitude to have worked for Paul Engler’s company, having the opportunity to move to the corporate offices in Dumas and finally Amarillo. She conveyed that Mr. Engler’s work ethic and generosity changed her family’s life, giving her children a chance to be educated and build a solid future. Marian strove to teach her six children the principles of hard work, perseverance, ethics, faith in God, and good financial practices by living those principles as an example.
Marian’s greatest joys later in life were watching her grand and great-grandchildren grow, seeing their smiles, and sharing hugs. She loved growing beautiful flowers and was proud that she was able to provide for herself and her family independently despite many challenges.
Marian was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle, IA, Holy Family Catholic Church in Lidderdale, IA, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pocahontas, IA, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Dumas, TX, and St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Amarillo, TX.
Marian was preceded in death by her parents Edward (1998) and Mary Renze (2007), ex-husband Evan Kuker (2012), sister Florence Wernimont (2018), brother-in-law Victor (2017), sister Alvina Renze (1940), sons-in-law William Josh Amerine (2010) of Merkel, TX and Ben Harned, III (2013) of Tyler, TX, granddaughters Gayle Nicole Kuker (1986) of Amarillo and Tessa Elizabeth Gonzalez of Washington DC (2021).
Left to celebrate Marian’s life are her children: Sharon (Curt) Heidt of Broomfield, CO; Karl (Nancy) Kuker of Amarillo, TX; Kristin (Jeff) Blank of Elmira, NY; Kenneth (Shelly) Kuker of Watford City, ND; Lisa (Rodney) Kieschnick of Tyler, TX; Rachel “Kiki” (Darren) Huls of Bozeman, MT; eleven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, niece Diane (Edward) Przepiorski of Auburn, CA; and nephew Richard (Karen) Wernimont of Lidderdale, IA.
Marian’s cremains will be buried between her parents in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Carroll, IA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Marian’s name can be made to Brookdale Sleepy Hollow of Amarillo, TX Memory Care Research, Holy Angels Forever of Roselle, IA or Meals on Wheels of Amarillo, TX.