Obituary for Gayle Kuchera

Gayle Louise Kuchera

September 13, 1937 – May 27, 2022

On May 27th, 2022, Gayle Louise Willbrant Kuchera, with her sons by her side, passed away in her home in Tonkawa, OK at the age of 84. Gayle was born at home on a farm north of Washington, Kansas. She attended the first eight years of her schooling in a one-room schoolhouse ½ mile from her home. She graduated from Washington High School in 1955, Fairbury Jr. College (Nebraska) in 1957 and Emporia State College (Kansas) in 1959 with an elementary teaching degree. In 1956, she married John Kuchera Jr., who she shared 55 years with before his passing. To this union, two boys, Stephen Jack and Craig Allen, blessed their lives.

Gayle taught for 19 years at Union 61 Rural School, on Hubbard Rd north of Tonkawa, and 2 years at Tonkawa Elementary. After her early retirement, her time was spent with her husband traveling and volunteering for Meals on Wheels and their church, the 1st United Methodist Church of Tonkawa, OK. She served for 10 years in several offices on the district level of the United Methodist Women, as well as various offices in her local church. She had also been active in Delphi Study Club, Northern Oklahoma College Women, the Tonkawa Historical Society and the Red Hat Society.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Walter and Mildred Graham Willbrant, brother Raymond Willbrant and her husband John.

Survivors include sons Stephen and wife, Michelle, of Marland, OK and Craig and wife, Donna, of Buffalo, MO; grandchildren, Niesha and husband, Casey Jones, of Tonkawa, Krista and husband, William Palmer, of Tonkawa, MaKaila Kuchera and Aaron Westmoreland, of Fair Grove, MO and KiAna Kuchera and Dustin Anderson, of Springfield, MO., Jessica and husband, Nathan Mankey, of Windyville, MO, Erica Jones and Ryan Christopher, of Lexington, KY, Matthew Caldwell and Andrew Caldwell of Tonkawa; great-grandchildren, Blaze and Keeleigh Jones, Azeliah, Audrina, Remington and Makai Palmer, Roman Westmoreland, Ivory and Odin Anderson, MaKinlea and Brayson Mankey and Aiden Christopher. Also, a sister, Norma and husband, Earl Waterman, of Beloit, KS; sister-in-law, Myrna Willbrant, Washington, KS; brothers-in-law, Paul Kuchera and wife, Lois, of Lincoln, Kansas and David Kuchera of Desert Aire, Washington, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 3, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Tonkawa with burial to follow at the I00F Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Humanity Hospice, 1104 N Bryant Avenue, Edmond OK 73034. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Tonkawa, 505 Thunderbird Rd, Tonkawa, OK 74653.

Source: Trout Funeral Home