DANICA UHERKA-ABELS

Danica (Dana) Ann Uherka- Abels, 42, of Brandon, daughter of Norman and Deb (Miller) Uherka was born on March 11, 1980 at the Tyndall hospital. She passed away late afternoon on November 29, 2022 of respiratory failure at her home in Brandon.

Funeral service was held at the United Methodist Church in Wagner on Saturday, December 3. Burial was in the Presbyterian Cemetery in rural Wagner. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wagner Cancer Walk. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner is in charge of arrangements.

Danica Ann came into this world VERY early that morning, which played a part in choosing her name. Danica is a Slovic name for “star of the morning”. She was baptized later that year at the Wagner United Methodist Church and also confirmed her faith in Christ after attending Confirmation classes under Pastor Rick Hazen.

She attended Wagner Public Schools through 12th grade. She had a very busy career in 4-H showing hogs, gardening, visual arts, cooking, and sewing exhibits. As a member of FFA, she had the honor of becoming the very first Wagner student to be chosen for the National FFA Convention Band held in Kansas City, MO.

Upon graduation, she attended SDSU for one year before realizing her career in Culinary Arts. After graduation from Mitchell Vo-Tech, she started her cooking and chef career in Sioux Falls, SD. She worked at various locations building up her skills. At one time, she hosted the cooking segment on KSFY TV. Those getting up early enough had the pleasure of watching her segments and really enjoying them and her infectious giggle. She eventually landed a job as chef at the cafeteria of the National Good Samaritan Society Complex in SW Sioux Falls.

On September 6, 2009, she was united in marriage to Aaron Abels of Sioux Falls. Of this union two sons were born, Zander John on February 19, 2010 and Max Gregory on October 2, 2015.

The highlight of her culinary career occurred in the summer of 2022 when she received the “Ever Forward Champion Award” from the Good Samaritan Society for her courageous fight through breast cancer. This award is the Good Samaritan Society’s Highest Honor. Her fight with cancer earned her the diagnosis of CANCER FREE in October 2021.

Sharing her life through many laughs and adventures was her good friend and “sister” Michelle Zolnowsky. Many stories were and can be told. Danica was loved by so many and she touched a lot of people in a way that only she could do. She will be forever missed and forever in our hearts.

Danica is survived by her husband Aaron; her two sons: Zander and Max; her stepson Jacob Abels; her parents Norm and Deb and numerous relatives and many friends and coworkers.

Danica was preceded in death by her grandparents Joe and Olga Uherka and Bryce and Shirley Miller.