Karleen Ann Kratochvil left this earth at Osmond, NE on February 14, 2016 at the age of 76 years, 11 months and 24 days.

Karleen A. Kratochvil was the first born of five children to Harry and Ethel (Johnson) Kratochvil on February 20, 1939 in Union County, SD. Due to complications of a home birth in those days, Karleen lived her life with a developmental disability.

In spite of her disability, Karleen enjoyed life and always managed to keep her mind and hands busy. She was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Hawarden, IA and was a faithful member there until she moved to Alcester in 1977 and eventually transferred her membership to the Alcester Baptist Church. She was a member of the graduating class of the Hawarden High School in 1957. After graduation, she worked for a while and then helped on the family farm, living in her parent's home. She moved to Alcester with them in 1977 and later to an apartment of her own. She remained there for almost ten years until her health required her to move to the Countryside Villa Assisted Living in Wausa, NE which her sister Jean managed. She transferred to the Osmond, Nebraska General Hospital private care setting in October, 2015 and remained there until her death.

Karleen spent most of her life assisting her parents on the family farm. Her part of the farm was in milking the cows, ironing, doing dishes, and other household chores for the family. She loved to keep busy with craft projects and making table favors for all the family gatherings. Her nieces and nephews were very important to her. Until recently, she remembered them on their birthdays and loved their teasing her when the family gathered together for special occasions. Her recall of everyone's birthdays was exceptional. Karleen loved to make lists and faithfully kept a diary over all the years. She had lists of movies she attended over the years, everyone's birthday and how old they would be each year, lists of places she went, songs that were popular, and the lists went on. She was a lover of cats and collected cat figurines most of her life. Her figurine collection totaled around 150 pieces. She had a special cat who lived with her for 20 years by the name of Betsy.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Will and Fannie Kratochvil and Ed and Ella Johnson; her parents, Harry and Ethel Kratochvil; a nephew, Tyler Kratochvil; a brother-in-law Phillip Thorell; and many aunts, uncles, and friends. Those she leaves behind include two sisters, Karel Mollhoff (Robert), Odebolt, IA; Jean Thorell Holcomb (Ralph), Wausa, NE; and two brothers, Jerry Kratochvil (Shonnie) and Richard Kratochvil, all of Hawarden, IA. She also leaves behind her beloved Nieces, nephews and their families.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, February 19, 2016 at Alcester Baptist Church with burial to follow at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Alcester. Visitation with family present will be Thursday from 6PM to 8PM with a prayer service at 7PM at Wass Funeral Home in Alcester.