Emery A. Kathka, 84, of McCook, NE passed away March 31, 2021, at his
home. He was born May 25, 1936, to Gustave and Laura Pearl (Jennings)
Kathka in Oberlin, KS.
Emery grew up on the family farm four miles North of Oberlin and
attended East Liberty School until the family moved to Oberlin and he
then attended Oberlin Grade School and graduated from Decatur Community
High School in 1954.
Emery married Delores M. Keith on May 25, 1955, in Oberlin and they
lived southwest of Marion, NE until Emery went into the Army in
September of 1956. To this marriage three sons were born, Dennis Keith,
David Karl, and Duane Kyle Kathka. He was in Ft. Lenard Wood, MO and
later go transferred to Ft. Polk, LA. Emery was discharged from the Army
in September of 1958. Shortly after being discharged from the Army,
Emery started working for Chamber Brothers feeding cattle for 9 ½ years.
Then he moved to Danbury after buying a place to raise hogs and lived
there for several years.
At the age of 10, Emery started working for his half-brother, Ival,
herding sheep and then later he worked for Ival on the farm and then
went into partnership with him. Later he bought a farm northeast of
Oberlin, built a house on it, farmed, and raised cattle and hogs. In
1997, Emery moved to McCook, NE and built and house and lived there
until his passing.
Emery is survived by his sons, Dennis and Teresa Kathke of
Havensville, KS, David Kathka and wife Teresa of Elgin, IL, and Duane
Kathka of Arapahoe, NE; grandchildren: Samantha Kathke, Sabrina and Even
Deubner, Daniel Kathke, and Megan Kathka and; great-grandchildren:
MaKaila, Shaila, Korensa, Jaiden and Joshua; sister: Agnes Urban of
Wichita, KS; sisters-in-law, Ann Kathka of Humansville, MO; Noreen Jumps
of McCook, NE, Anita Surber of Bainbridge, IN, Jeanenne Keith of
Phoenix, AZ, brother-in-law, Howard Kenfield of Ogallala, NE and many
nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Delores; grandson,
Timothy Kathka; half-brothers, Francis Kathka, Leo (infant), Vollie and
Florence Kathka, and Harley, Ival and Olga Kathka; half-sisters, Letha
and Floyd Riblett, La Verle Kathka, La Fern Leitner, and infant Adeline
Kathka; sisters, Mary Hilton and Wilma Kathka; sisters-in-law, Glenva
Kenfield, Mary Kathka, Le Ardis Frerichs, Le Verna Petersen, Jackie
Miller and Bonnie Keith and brothers-in-law, George Leitner, Elmer
Frerichs, Edward Surber, Norman Keith, Jim Keith, John Urban and Glen
Jumps.
Graveside services will be held 1:00 pm Friday, April 2, 2021 at the
Traer Cemetery, Traer, KS. Memorial contributions may be given to a
charity of your choice. Condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
Arrangements by Pauls Funeral Home, Oberlin.