Obituary of Amelia A. Rokusek

Amelia A. (Amy) Rokusek, age 83, of Tabor, SD, died Saturday morning, September 21, 2013 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home, Viborg, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Rev. Dan Moris and Msgr. Carlton Hermann con-celebrating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Tabor, with a Wake service at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers are Matthew Hunhoff, Nicholas Hunhoff, Abigail Hunhoff, Paul Hunhoff, John Kirk, and Tom Rokusek. Amy was born November 26, 1929 in Tyndall to Anton & Ludmilla (Kotalik) Zelenka. She received her two year teaching certificate at Southern Normal School in Springfield, SD and began teaching in the rural schools in 1947. She was the first lay teacher at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School and then went on to teach for the Bon Homme School District, she taught first and second grades. In 1974, after attending many summer school sessions, she obtained her Bachelor's Degree for Education. Her total teaching career was over 50 years. She retired from teaching in 1994 to care for her husband, Leonard and after his death, she substituted for many surrounding school districts. She belonged to the South Dakota Retired Teachers Association, member of and served as President of the South Dakota Rural Letter Carrier's Auxiliary. She belonged to the St. Wenceslaus Altar Rosary Society, Kortan-Hatwan American Legion Auxiliary serving as their President, Czech Heritage Society, and Foresters. She served as the St. Wenceslaus Church Sacristan for 34 years. Due to Alzheimer's she moved into Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home of Viborg in December 2007. Grandchildren were Amy's first love. She attended all their school and sporting activities. She also delivered the papers for them so they could be at their sporting events. Amy loved being the "farmer inside her". Her fondest memories were helping shell corn and drive her tractor to keep up the farm. She was an avid hunter who was ready on every opening pheasant season day. Amy is survived by her daughter, Jean (Dan) Hunhoff of Yankton, SD; four grandchildren: Matthew, Nicholas, Abigail (Dan) Kokesh, and Paul; two great-grandchildren, Kellen, Sivelen; and sister, Agnes Franz of Mesa, AZ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, parents, brothers, Anton and Joseph, sister, Evelyn Clark, and two infant siblings.