MARY ANN STASTNY

Funeral Mass for Mary Ann Stastny, 81, of Lennox, formerly of Wagner, was held Tuesday, September 11 at Saint John The Baptist Catholic Church in Wagner. Burial service was at the parish cemetery, rural Wagner. Crosby-JaegerFuneral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Ann W. (Kathol) Stastny was born May 13, 1937 at Bow Valley, NE, the youngest child of John and Mary (Wiesler) Kathol. She died Friday, September 7, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society in Lennox. Mary Ann attained the age of 81 years, three months and 25 days.

Mary Ann attended school in Bow Valley NE to the 8th grade and attained her General Education Diploma in 1985. She was united in marriage to Joseph J. Stastny, Jr. on October 8, 1963 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bow Valley. Together they built their home, farmed and raised their family northwest of Wagner at the ‘Stastny Corner’.

Mary Ann was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wagner and was active in the Catholic Daughters. She was the matriarch and leader of the Stastny Family Polka Band with all five children as members and Joe as the number one fan. Mary Ann loved sharing her musical talents and entertained at the Good Samaritan Center in Wagner for more than 30 years. She also substitute taught in local schools and no matter the subject, students often learned to polka. Love, laughter, music, family and faith were amply shared by Mary Ann throughout her life.

Thankful for having shared her life are her husband Joseph Stastny of Lennox, five children: Charles (Margaret) Stastny of West Des Moines, IA, Joan (Ryan)Renz of Lennox, Wayne (Jantina) Nelson-Stastny of Yankton, Mary (Doug) Hahne of Hartington, NE, and Carol Stastny of Freeman; nine grandchildren; sister Delores Sudbeck of Hartington, NE; and many relatives and friends.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents; sister Mary Kathol in infancy, sister Christine (Kruse) Kaberna, and brother Arthur Kathol.