Genevieve Sempek

Genevieve Marie Sempek, 101, of Columbus died Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Emerald Care Center - Columbus.

Vigil service is Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. with a 5-7 p.m. visitation at McKown Funeral Home. As per Genevieve's wishes, a private family funeral will be held and private interment will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Genevieve was born November 1, 1923 on a family farm southwest of Genoa, Nebraska in rural Nance County to John and Rose (Drozd) Laska.  She grew up on a farm southwest of Monroe in Platte County where she attended country school District 73. She attended Monroe High School for two years and then attended and graduated with a teacher's certificate from Genoa High School in 1942. Genevieve lived to be one of the few remaining members of the largest senior class in Genoa High School history. After graduation she taught country school for four years in District 59 near St. Edward and District 24 near Albion.  On April 25, 1950 she was united in marriage to Edward Sempek at St. John's Catholic Church in rural Lindsay. To this union four children were born, Jerome (Jerry), twins Rita and Richard, and Janet.

They farmed in the Lindsay, Monroe, and Columbus areas.  In 1975, they stopped farming and moved to the Lakeview High School area. Genevieve was a hardworking homemaker and grew large gardens. She canned fruits and vegetables and was loved for her delicious cooking and baking, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

She enjoyed listening to polka music, attending polka dances, collecting and cooking new recipes, birdwatching, solving word puzzles, flowers, and spending time with her special granddaughter, Angela.

She was a strong believer of the Catholic faith and a devoted member of St. Bonaventure Church.

She is survived by:
Son: Jerome (Jerry) Sempek of Salt Lake City, UT
Daughter: Rita Sempek (Jim Scheffler) of Columbus, NE
Son: Richard Sempek (Barbara Zelasney, special friend) of Columbus, NE
Daughter: Janet (Ted) Ciboron of Columbus, NE
Granddaughter: Angela (Terry) Odgaard of Columbus, NE
Step-great grandchildren: Jersey and Medrick Odgaard of Columbus, NE
Sisters-in-law: Delores Laska of Omaha, NE, Mary Ann Smyth of Santa Rosa, CA, and Dorothea Sempek of Monroe, NE
Brother-in-law: Ray Moritz of Columbus, NE
Cousins and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by:
Parents John and Rose Laska
Husband Edward Sempek
Brothers Dennis, Lawrence, and Adrian Laska, Sister Delores Laska Daughter-in-Law Therese Sempek
Sister-in-law Berdelle Ludden
Nephew Larry Laska
Mother and Father In-Law Carl and Theodosia Sempek
Brothers and Sisters In-law Frances and John Ziemba, Angie and Martin Placzek, Bernice and Leonard Drozd, Joe and Inez Sempek, Rose Moritz, Steve Sempek, Delores Sempek, Joe Smyth

In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials may be donated to the Genoa Historical Museum, St. Bonaventure Church or donor's choice.

The family would like to thank both past and present nurses and staff at Emerald Care Center – Columbus for Mom's care during the past six years.