Karole Pokorny

Karole Jean (Wait) Pokorny was born December 22, 1941 to Raymond "Dick" Wait and Velma Marie (Lehn) Wait in Ainsworth, NE and passed away December 2, 2017 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, NE with her sister by her side.

She attended various rural schools in Brown County before graduating from Ainsworth High School in 1960.  After graduation, she moved to Omaha and met Roger Pokorny, who was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base.  On November 21, 1964, they married at the Methodist Church in Omaha and shortly after they moved to Minneapolis, MN.  In 1973, they built a home southeast of Lonsdale, MN.  She fell in love with the country life and taking care of horses, sheep, cattle and chickens.  She especially enjoyed raising several babies from her palomino mare, Duster Suzette.  In the fall of 1973, their home felt complete with the adoption of three siblings: Jim  (age 6); Bob (age 4); and Kim (age 3).

The marriage ended in 1980 and Karole and the children moved to Ainsworth, NE for a short time.  Eventually, she and her children moved to Denver, CO where she worked for the National Western Stock Show, the American Saler Association, and the Colorado Health Department.

In 1996 she moved to Gothenburg where she worked as an office manager for Circle B Irrigation and then Holdrege Irrigation, retiring in 2004. Karole also became very involved with the Cub Scouts while in Gothenburg and spent twelve enjoyable years as den leader and treasurer.  During this time she helped raise her grandson Thomas Jay (TJ) Gallegos.

She enjoyed painting landscapes and belonged to the Gothenburg Pony Expressionist Art Club, enjoyed sewing and was an avid gardener.  She had an extraordinary rapport with animals and shared a special bond with Sasha, her beloved German Shepherd mix.

Karole is survived by three children, James Roger (Jo) of Ramsey, MN, Robert Wayne of Anoka, MN and Kimberly (Chris) of Cozad; two sisters Janice Ammon (Tucker) of Brighton, CO and Donna (Jeff) Morris of Gothenburg; one brother James (Valerie) of Longmont, CO; and five grandchildren: Chesca, Justin, Cassidy, TJ and Serenity.  Karole is also survived by nieces and nephews: Aaron, Nathan, Blair, Taylor, Stacie, Scott and Kristyn.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Thursday, December 7, 2017, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, Friday, December 8, 2017 at 1:30 pm.

Interment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Memorials may be designated to the Fur the Love of Paws, Pawsitive partners, or Paw Prints in Dawson County PO Box 21 Cozad, NE 69130.