Mary Jane (“Jane”) Prohaska, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 12, 2021 in Manhattan, Kansas. She was a long-time resident of Hiawatha, Kansas but had been in long-term care at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, Kansas due to health issues, including chronic kidney disease.

Jane was born on June 8, 1930 in Everest, Kansas to Henry John (“Henry”)
and Pauline Cecilia (“Polly”) (Zeller) Kuckelman. Jane married John Joseph
Prohaska on November 28, 1953 in Everest, Kansas at All Saints Catholic Church.

John predeceased her on May 6, 1996. Jane was also preceded in death by her parents,brothers Robert and Vernon Kuckelman and daughter, Linda.

She is survived by four children Michael (Mary); Mark (Mai); Kathryn (Christopher) and Julie (Michael), ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Jane was a graduate of Everest High School in Everest, Kansas. After high school
she entered nurses training and became an R.N. Jane worked for over 30 years as an R.N. starting at the Atchison, Kansas Hospital, then at the Hiawatha Community Hospital and later in her nursing career at long-term care facilities in Hiawatha, Kansas.

She was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Hiawatha.

Jane was an accomplished musician in her early years. She played the piano,
organ, clarinet and violin and had a beautiful soprano voice. Jane loved to read especially science fiction and mystery books. She was also an avid gardener and enjoyed many years after her retirement as an R.N. in her gardens growing beautiful flowers and lots of tomatoes and zucchini. She designed and built not only a rock waterfall for her yard but also a brick patio and sidewalk.

Jane enjoyed having pets around her and had a number of cats, dogs and canaries over the years. In her later years, Jane’s dog Pixie followed by her rescue dog, Rosie, were not only her loyal companions but also her “ears” helping her know what was going on around her when her hearing loss became profound.

She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Jane lived a good long life with many blessings. May she rest in peace.

A rosary at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha, Kansas will be held on Friday,
December 17, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. followed by graveside services at Mount Hope
Cemetery. A memorial Mass celebrating Jane’s life will be held in the spring at St. Ann Catholic Church on her birthday, June 8, 2022, when the flowers Jane loved are back in bloom.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Ann Catholic Church or the Morrill
Public Library in Hiawatha, Kansas, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 South Seventh St., 66434.    A special message may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com