Allen  Cuka

CON-CELEBRATING
Fr. Joseph Forcelle
Fr. Gerald Thury
MUSIC
Organist ~ Marcene Kniffen
Soloist ~ Linda Keszler
Processional Hymn ~ “Be Not Afraid”
Offertory Hymn ~ “On Eagle’s Wings”
Communion Hymn ~ “I Am the Bread of Life”
Recessional Hymn ~ “How Great Thou Art”
LECTOR
Dr. Scott Weber
ALTAR SERVERS
Bitzy, Andrew & Garrett Mitzel
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Joe Kostal
Ed Kniffen
Ron Zimmerman
Jim Kniffen
CASKETBEARERS
Don Hauck
Kevin Cuka
Gary Cuka
Brian Cuka
Tom Bares
Bob Bares
Ken Becvar
Jim Becvar
Allen Cuka was born on Friday, September 13, 1940 at Yankton, South Dakota to Emil and Rose (Paul) Cuka. He graduated from Tyndall High School in 1958. Allen was united in marriage to MaryAnn Bares on June 26, 1965 at St. Leo Catholic Church in Tyndall. 
The four touchstones in Allen’s life were faith, family, farming, and friends. He was a faithful member of St. Leo Catholic Church and also served as a member of the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Workmen.
Allen was a devoted family man. He served as a 4-H leader when his children were young, and enjoyed watching his children and later his grandchildren participate in 4-H and sports.
Farming was a part of Allen's entire life and he farmed five and a half miles east of Tyndall for over fifty years. He liked traveling the farm on his 4-wheeler to check on things and was a proud John Deere machinery owner. He enjoyed going to cattle sales and proudly served on the Co-op board for over 20 years. Allen's animals were important to him and he especially enjoyed his dog, Penny, and his cat, Julius.
Sports provided much entertainment in Allen's life. In his younger years, he played high school football and softball for the Tabor Jets. He was a fan of the Tabor Bluebirds, Minnesota Vikings, Twins, and Yankees. His passion, however, was high school football, having missed only three home games since 1954.
He was proud of his Czech heritage and enjoyed speaking Czech with his friends. He never missed a Czech Days celebration in Tabor.
Allen savored the simple things that brought richness to his life: a good tomato beer from a quart jar, the many Sunday afternoon drives that ended with ice cream, hunting and fishing in the outdoors, and sharing coffee with his friends at the Corral.
Allen passed away on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton at the age of 72 years, 1 month and 18 days.
Allen’s memory will be cherished by his wife, MaryAnn of Tyndall; three children: Ann (Dana) Brentlinger of Rapid City, John (Nancy) Cuka of Tyndall and Jill (Ben) Kotalik of Tabor; eleven grandchildren: Noah, Josh, Aubrie, Zachary, Hannah, Jacob, Caleb, Baby Cuka, ReAnna, Brock, and Joslyn; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles and Margaret Bares and two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Cuka and Mildred (Becvar) Herman, all of Tyndall.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Rose Cuka, and his brother, Romaine Cuka.