Loretta Jane (Yanney) Kacere entered her heavenly home on Thursday, January 11, 2024 in Wahoo, Neb. at the age of 94. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Loretta was born in Lexington, Neb. on March 8, 1929 to Mose Kenneth Yanney and Wadia Nemer Yanney. She was the third of seven children. Her family owned a cafe in Lexington, but because of the Great Depression, they had to relocate and finally ended up in Lincoln, Neb. They bought the Cottage Cafe near Nebraska Wesleyan University. The business was a family affair in which they all worked and enjoyed their customers.
Loretta graduated from Northeast High School in Lincoln in 1947. She enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan and was elected president of her sorority. Because of their parents’ death, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa. There, she enrolled in Morningside College and graduated with a BA in education.
Loretta met the man of her dreams, Mike Kacere, Sr., in January 1954. After a brief courtship, they were married on June 27, 1954. They lived in Rushville, Neb. and Loretta taught kindergarten for the first semester as their first child was due in April. They then moved to Gordon, Neb. where they resided for the next 60 years, becoming prominent pillars of the community. Together, Mike and Loretta raised four children. Once the children were in school, Loretta went back to teaching in the Gordon Public School System where she taught for 23 years, retiring in May of 1994. She was a dedicated educator and community member. Loretta was a member of PEO, Eastern Star and many other community organizations, endlessly volunteering at church and community events. She was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal church in Gordon where she served on the altar guild.
Mike and Loretta enjoyed traveling, visiting friends and family throughout the country. They traveled to Cedar Rapids every Easter. Once their children were grown and moved away from Gordon, they made it a point to travel to as many family events as possible. They took a fall trip many years in a row traveling to each of their children’s homes and visiting other relatives along the way. In 2015, Mike and Loretta moved to Wahoo, Neb. to be closer to their children’s families. They made friends with the wonderful people at Colony Place, living there until June of 2022 when they moved to South Haven Living Center.
Raising their children with a strong religious upbringing was very important to Loretta. She was baptized and married in the Eastern Orthodox Church. She made sure that their children attended church and Sunday School each week at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and once they made the move to Wahoo, Mike and Loretta continued to worship regularly at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Loretta was preceded in death by her loving husband, Mike, her parents, brother Jim and wife, Edna (Dodo), brother LeRoy, Sister Yvonnie and husband Bill, brother-in-law, Don David, an infant daughter Lori Ann, and many other family members and friends that she loved.
Loretta is survived by daughters Judy (Kevin) Stukenholtz, Janie (Mark) Fouts; sons Mike Kacere, Jr., Rich (Piper) Kacere, 15 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren who lovingly call her Sittee. In addition, Loretta is survived by sisters Phyllis David, Lorraine (Don) Nemer, Sister-in-law Gayla Yanney, brother David (Pam) and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and scores of other family and friends that were near and dear to her.