Russell J. Stedronsky, 86, of Lincoln, NE, formerly of Lake Andes

Russell passed away in Lincoln, NE on December 18, 2016. Memorial Services are 11 AM, Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Lake Andes with interment in LakeView Cemetery near Lake Andes, with Military Honors.

Memorials in lieu of flowers to the LakeView Cemetery Association.

Russell J. Stedronsky was born at Lake Andes, SD on October 19, 1930, the son of Charles Stedronsky, Jr and Josephine (Dolejsi) Stedronsky. He passed away in Lincoln, NE on December 18, 2016 at age 86.

Russ graduated from Lake Andes High School in 1948, then attended Southern State Teachers College at Springfield and the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. In 1952 he received his degree in mortuary science from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, IL.

Russ married Lois Amundson at Viborg, SD on May 19, 1953. They moved to Hopkinsville, KY upon Russ entering the U.S. Army, serving at Fort Campbell, KY. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1955, they returned to Lake Andes where he and his brothers Robert and Wayne operated Stedronsky Funeral Home and Central Hardware until 1962. In 1963, Russ and Lois purchased Stedronsky Funeral Home, then opened Stedronsky Furniture in 1964, which they owned and operated until 1979. In January 1986 they sold Stedronsky Funeral Home and retired from business ownership.

Russ served the city of Lake Andes as mayor from 1957 to 1966 and 1989 to 1995, and as a city councilman from 1971 to 1977 and 1984 to 1988. He was the Charles Mix County Coroner from 1955 through the early 1990's. He was on the Board of Directors of Andes State Bank which opened in 1962, and was a member of First Lutheran Church, the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge in Lake Andes. During the mid 1970's and 1980's he was an American Legion baseball coach, along with his brother Ray. Russ was an avid card player, bowler, and golfer, and he enjoyed attending his children's and grandchildren's school and sports activities.

Russ and Lois moved to Lincoln, NE in 2011 where he resided until his death. Family members who were blessed to be a part of Russ's life and who survive him are Lois, his wife of 63 years, sisters Alice Morris, Sedalia, MO, and Elaine Wood, Springtown, TX, brother Wayne and wife Margaret of Sublimity, OR, sisters-in-law Mildred Stedronsky of Wagner and Kathy Stedronsky of Mitchell, brother-in-law Edgar Gerken, Cole Camp, MO, daughter Cheryl Kirwan of LaVista, NE, son Bruce and his wife Jane of Lincoln, NE, son-in-law Terry Matuska of Omaha, NE, six grandchildren, Krystal Cotton (Vaughn) of Omaha, NE, Wyatt Kirwan (Joni Mengarelli) of Walters, OK, Ben Stedronsky (Kristina), Big Lake, TX, Matt Stedronsky, Edmond, OK, Danica Fuller (Brett), Hill Air Force Base, UT, Katarina Matuska, Omaha, NE and one great grandson Jaxon Charles Stedronsky of Big Lake, TX. Family members who were blessed to be a part of Russ's life and preceded him in death were his daughter Lynn Matuska, parents Charles, Jr. and Josephine, 3 brothers, Raymond, John and Robert, and 1 sister Josephine Gerken.