Elaine Josephine Rerucha
Elaine Josephine Rerucha died Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in her home, where she lived for 62 years. She was 93.
She was born Feb. 27, 1925, in rural Colfax County, Nebraska. Elaine was the only child of the late John and Alice (née Swoboda) Dobes. She attended elementary school in Rural District No. 62 in Nebraska and high school, at age 11, in Schuyler, Nebraska. Elaine was 15 when she started college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and graduated with a BS in education when she was 19 years old. She had a teaching certification for classical Latin and Greek, English, history and grades 7-12.
Elaine was teaching high school in David City, Nebraska, when she met WWII-hero-returned-home Elmer W. Rerucha. They were married June 7, 1948, in Leigh, Nebraska, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, then moved to Laramie, where Elmer attended the University of Wyoming on the GI Bill. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this month.
Elaine’s first job in Laramie was at Hesteds, then the Laramie Basin Hardware, and for John Tencick at Texico Corp. until she started teaching at St. Laurence School, where she taught for 18 years. She also taught Latin to aspiring seminarians at the Newman Center, under Father Charles Taylor, and summer school in Rock River.
When Elaine wasn’t teaching, she volunteered at numerous organizations, including the WIC Program, Boy Scouts, 4-H, Kappa Kappa Gamma Mother’s Club, Sigma Chi and the Jane Jefferson Club. After retiring from teaching, she was a docent at the Laramie Plains Museum.
Elaine was a past president and 70-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a life member of the UW and University of NE Alumni Associations, an Alpha Delta Kappa Silver Sister and a member of the Altar and Rosary Society at St.Laurence Church, where she was a member since moving to Laramie.
In addition to husband Elmer, Elaine is survived by four children, John William (Mollie), of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Calvin Elmer (Janice), of Laramie, Kay Ellen Schwarz (the late James), of Melbourne, Florida, and Kim Marie McIrvin (David), Laramie; 18 grandchildren, John Dobes Rerucha (Caitlyn), of Leavenworth, Kansas, Laura Goeden (Scott), of Falls Church, Virginia, Luke Rerucha, of Laramie, Max Rerucha, of Laramie, Mark Schwarz (Meredith), of Nutley, New Jersey, Alison Haas (Augie), Of New York City, Zachary Schwarz (Taylor), of Milwaukee, Matthew Schwarz, of Gainesville, Florida, Abigail McIrvin (Krissy), of Encampment, and Claire, Jack and Kathryn McIrvin, all of Laramie; four great-grandchildren, Jack and Emma Rerucha, of Leavenworth, Kansas, Lucy Goeden, of Falls Church, Virginia, and Lainey Schwarz, of Nutley, New Jersey; two cousins, Mary Ann Kruse, of Seward, Nebraska, and Arline Baird, of Central City, Nebraska; sister-in-law Georgia Rerucha, of Omaha, Nebraska; several nieces and nephews; and dear friends, Audrey and Ernie Sayers, of Leigh, Nebraska.
Services will be Saturday, June 9, 2018, at St. Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church. The rosary is at9:30 a.m., and the funeral mass is at10 a.m.
Memorial contributions honoring Elaine can be made to St. Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church.
20 Comments To "Elaine Josephine Rerucha"
#1 Comment By Bob Miller and family On June 6, 2018 @ 12:40 pm
To all the Rerucha Family, so sorry for your lose, She will be missed by all that knew her.
#2 Comment By Julie and Roger Rayda On June 6, 2018 @ 3:29 pm
To all the Reruchas – we are so very sorry for your loss. Roger remembers Elaine’s Latin classes fondly and we both remember socializing with her and Elmer when Roger was in the real estate business with Elmer. Love to all, Roger & Julie Rayda
#3 Comment By Anonymous On June 6, 2018 @ 3:44 pm
Cal & Jan,
I am sorry to hear of your mom, mother-in-law passing. May you find peace in the memories. Prayers for your entire family.
#4 Comment By Deb Formento On June 6, 2018 @ 7:18 pm
Dear Cal and Rerucha Family,
So sorry for your loss. Your Mom was a wonderful example of a life well lived combined with kindness, faith and lifelong learning. She will not be forgotten.
#5 Comment By Angela (Cowper) Kaiser On June 7, 2018 @ 4:32 am
Dear Rerucha family your mom was a blessing to so many if us at St Laurence. I am so sorry for your loss. Our moms are one of the hardest people to lose. Eternal rest grant unto her, and may Eternal light shine upon her. Prayers for all!
#6 Comment By Bill & Peggy Joyce On June 7, 2018 @ 5:31 am
We know how hard it is to loose a love one. No matter how long you have someone in your life, it’s never long enough. Please know we are thinking of you all.
#7 Comment By Sue Jones On June 7, 2018 @ 6:29 am
Cal & Rerucha Family;
So very sorry about the loss of your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
#8 Comment By LuAnn Kornegay On June 7, 2018 @ 6:51 am
So sorry for your loss! Many prayers!
#9 Comment By Trisha Almendares-Sparks On June 7, 2018 @ 6:52 am
Sending comforting and loving prayers to you all. She taught me English at St.Laurence and was the most patient, kind and caring woman and always had a smile on her face. Heaven has gained a wonderful angel.
#10 Comment By Glenn Speiser On June 7, 2018 @ 10:17 am
Mr. Rerucha, John, Cal, Kay and Kim,
Condolences and prayers for you all! Can’t think of St Laurence School without thinking of her! She was always so patient and kind, such a blessing to all who knew her!
#11 Comment By Stephanie Carter On June 7, 2018 @ 1:22 pm
My deepest condolences. It’s times like these we loose the right words to express the pain that is felt. God knows the big family I have, and loss is such a painful journey. As you gather together in joy and like now sadness, remember to embrace loving thoughts, words and gestures. Your not alone in your sorrow. She sees incredible sites now!
“I can only imagine”.
All my love,
Stephanie Carter
(Barry Carter Family)
#12 Comment By Jim and Shelia Howard On June 7, 2018 @ 3:56 pm
John, so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
#13 Comment By John Williams On June 8, 2018 @ 8:54 am
I’m very sorry to hear of the passing of Elaine Rerucha. She was such a quality person and Iremember her from St. Laurence days where she was a teacher. God bless her and the entire Rerucha family.
John J. Williams
#14 Comment By CHARIS REEVES KIPPER On June 8, 2018 @ 9:39 am
Kay and family, so sorry to read about your Mom. Thoughts and prayers are with you. May happy memories fill your hearts.
#15 Comment By Irene Johnson On June 8, 2018 @ 9:54 am
Mrs. Rerucha was such a caring and patient teacher. I feel very honored that I was able to have her as my teacher. Blessings and condolences to the family as the gather to honor her time here on earth. I am sure I heard the Lord say as she passed “Welcome good and loyal servant” as the angels rejoiced!
#16 Comment By Linda Pribble On June 9, 2018 @ 12:13 pm
To all the Rerucha family,
My deepest sympathies for the loss of Elaine. Prayers to all of You!
#17 Comment By Linda Pribble On June 9, 2018 @ 12:13 pm
To all the Rerucha family,
My deepest sympathies for the loss of Elaine. Prayers to all of You!
#18 Comment By Anonymous On June 14, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
Cal and Jan, Dave and I are so sorry of your loss. When you think back on your mother think of the wonderful life she had, reading her obituary amazes me. She did it all! Every time I was in your law office Cal, she was so good to me, kind of treated me like a mother. Dave and I now live in Indiana but our Rock River and Laramie friends mean so much to us. We love you two. My love goes to Max and Luke too. If I’m an old lady that means they are all grown up.
#19 Comment By Dave and Joanne Lemler On June 14, 2018 @ 12:35 pm
Cal and Jan, we are so sorry of your loss. In reading her obituary your mother lived a wonderful life, she did it all. Dave and I now live in Indiana but our Rock River and Laramie friends mean the world to us. Please know that we love you.
#20 Comment By Andy & Michelle Sanchez On July 8, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
Cal, we just heard. We send you our condolences. Andy remembers her well from St. Laurence, she was a great Teacher. With Love, Andy & Michelle Sanchez