Alexander “Al” Kukas, 97, of Scottsbluff, passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2021 at Heritage Estates in Gering. Visitation will be from 9 AM until the service time of 11 AM on Friday, November 12, 2021 at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel. Pastor Michael Schaaf will officiate. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery with military honors by the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard and the Gering Post No. 36 Sons Of The American Legion Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family for a later designation. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dugankramer.com for the Kukas family.
Al was born April 15, 1924 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Henry and Anna (Kuhn) Kukas. The family moved around a lot while he was a young boy and he received his education in various schools within the communities in which they lived. He entered the United States Army on May 11, 1943 and served until his honorable discharge on December 9, 1945. He was stationed in England, Belgium, and France. Al transferred to the infantry as a replacement following the Battle of The Bulge. While he was stationed in Germany during World War II, he was instrumental in getting supplies and materials from locals to enhance the facilities for the troops. At the end of the War, he toured all the prisoner of war camps for the 45,000 prisoners to make sure they were treated fairly.
Al married Irene Heilbrun on February 24, 1946 at Zion Evangelical Church in Scottsbluff with a two day Dutch Hop wedding. Al worked for an electric company in Scottsbluff and built a home where their first child, Laurie, was born. They moved to a farm near Minatare and later to a farm near Lyman where their son, Ervin, was born. The family moved to a farm north of Morrill where they raised cattle and later had a trout farm. Al taught adults and children how to fish and Irene did a superb job of cleaning fish.
Al sold real estate for over 50 years and had his own auction house for several years. They sold the farm and moved to Scottsbluff in the late 1990’s where they made their home. Al cared for Irene for the last three years of her life while she was on dialysis. He became a great homemaker under her tutelage handling the cooking, cleaning, and other household tasks. Irene passed in 2006.
Al was a member of the VFW, the Morrill American Legion, and the Society of Germans from Russia. He was a volunteer at the Legacy of the Plains Museum for over 10 years where he taught 600 4th graders every Fall. Al and Lila Ellard were Dutch Hop partners for several years and one year they gave lessons at the National Conference of Germans from Russia in Lincoln – two months after having his hip replaced!
Al is survived by his daughter Laurie Kukas, D.O. of Oklahoma City, OK; son Ervin Kukas of Issaquah, WA; companion for the last 13 years Lila Ellard of Scottsbluff; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter-in-law Sherry Kukas, brothers: Jacob, Phillip, Herman, and Henry, Jr; and sisters Mollie, Amelia “Millie”, and Margaret.
Special thanks to Helen Seifert, Robyn Rasmussen, Jeanne Sulzbach, Lorene Heilbrun, and Edith Kukas for the assistance and care these past few years.
