Celeste L. Kupka, 86, of Tama, died peacefully on March 2, 2013 at Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City. Liturgy Service of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama. Interment will follow at St Patrick's Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 5 - 7 at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Celeste was born on June 8, 1926, in Robins, Iowa, the daughter of James L. and Wilhelmina (Notbohm) Hoover.
She graduated from Marion High School and continued her education at Iowa State Teachers College, where she graduated with B.A. in 1948. Celeste taught Physical Education in the Tama schools starting in 1949.
She was united in marriage to Charles J. Kupka on June 20, 1951 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, Iowa. She was a homemaker and loving mother to five children. Celeste and Charles were active members of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama. After the children grew up, she was a substitute teacher and later worked at Kupka's Meat Market alongside her husband. She and Charles loved to attend their grandchildren's activities. Celeste was very devoted to her family.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Charles in 2010; one brother, Glenn Hoover; and one sister, Marilyn (Hoover) Benedict.
Survivors include five children, Susan (Shawn) Davis of Charles City, Joseph (Rhonda) Kupka of Richardson, TX, Thomas Kupka (fiancé Colleen) of Mesa, AZ, Barbara (Ansley) Kupka-Smith of Camilla, GA, and Carol (Mark) Paige of Mesa, AZ; seven grandchildren, Keegan (Melina) Davis, Rachel Davis, Andrew Kupka, Bradley Kupka, Connor Smith, Erin Smith, and Nicholas Paige; one great-granddaughter, Alexa Davis; and one brother, James H. (Mavee) Hoover of Marion.
A memorial fund has been established.