Jean Cielocha, age 79, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17 at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church. Visitation is Monday 5:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a 7:00 p.m. Vigil, at McKown Funeral Home. Interment is in All Saints Catholic Cemetery.

Jean Ruth Cielocha was born September 9, 1946, in Columbus, Nebraska to Henry and Ruth (Poulas) Kudera. She grew up on a farm north of Dodge, NE in Cuming County and attended grade school at the country school. Jean went to high school at Wisner High School, where she participated in concert and marching band, class plays, pep club, and vocal club. Outside of school she also played the accordian and enjoyed polka music. She graduated in 1964. Upon graduation, Jean attended Wayne State College, graduating with her teaching degree in 1969. She was a member of the Nebraska Educators Association (NEA) and Delta Kappa Gamma sorority. She began her teaching career in the parochial schools in Columbus, teaching at St. Bonaventure’s and St. Isidore’s. She also taught summer school in the Columbus public school system. Jean also ran her own preschool called Ready, Set, Learn. Following her time in education, Jean worked as the manager at the Columbus Dry Cleaners for more than 30 years before retiring.

Jean married Gerald (Jerry) Cielocha on May 16th in 1970 at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Columbus. They welcomed a son, Braden Jon, on September 7, 1983. Braden was their pride and joy, especially when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

She enjoyed traveling in her younger years, making trips with Jerry to Fort Robinson, NE and Fredericksburg, VA. Later in life, her brother, Richard Kudera, was her travel companion making trips together to San Diego, CA and Tijuana, MX for Braden’s graduation from bootcamp, to Fort Leonard Wood, MO to visit Braden during additional USMC training, and to Chicago, IL for her nephew’s graduation from Navy bootcamp. Richard also brought her to visit Braden and his family in Kansas. Eventually, Jean learned to make the drive to Overland Park, KS spending weeks with Braden and his family, Joanna (wife), and granddaughters, Katelyn (11) and Gwyneth (7). She loved Katelyn and Gwyneth more than anything and was incredibly proud of all their activities. She enjoyed playing solitaire with Katelyn and listening to Gwyneth read books. In her home, she had the greatest collection of crafting materials to entertain the kids, while they spent summer weeks at her home in Columbus. Her grandchildren loved swimming and kayaking in the lake while she watched from the porch. When not with the grandkids, she loved to read, play word puzzles, and talking on the phone or going to lunch with her many dear friends.

Jean entered hospice on March 3rd at the Columbus Community Hospital. She was transferred to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, in Kansas City, MO.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, parents, Henry & Ruth Kudera, and brother, Richard Kudera. She is survived by her son, Braden, daughter-in-law, Joanna, and two granddaughters, Katelyn and Gwyneth Cielocha, of Overland Park, KS and many family members and friends who loved her dearly.