Elaine Ruth (Buresh) Pokorny was born February 24, 1934 in Elma, Iowa and passed, surrounded by her daughters, to her eternal home on March 20, 2023. She was the daughter of George and Amelia (Beran) Buresh. She grew up on the family farm near Riceville, IA.

When Elaine was 14-years-old, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior while attending a Billy Graham Crusade. She was so moved by Dr. Graham’s sermon, that she went forward for the altar call and asked Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of her life. Even though she had heard the Gospel in her church, Billy Graham’s message brought everything together. Her faith in Jesus was the cornerstone of her life and it was deepened by reading the Bible and praying.

Elaine had always enjoyed and excelled in the clerical classes she took in high school, so after her graduation from Riceville High School in 1952, she moved to Fremont, NE to pursue greater opportunities, and lived with her aunt and uncle. Elaine worked for 2 ½ years as an auditor in the credit department at Gamble-Skogmo, Inc.

Elaine was united in marriage to Benjamin Pokorny of Wahoo, NE, on March 20, 1955 in Lime Springs, IA. They made their home for over 50 years on a farm southwest of Wahoo. During their married life, Elaine worked side-by-side with her husband, Ben, helping with the livestock, working in the fields, and hauling grain. Her skills as a seamstress were often seen at Christmas and Easter through the dresses that she sewed for her little girls. She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener and canned the produce from her garden. Elaine was a wonderful baker. She placed bird feeders around the farm so that she could enjoy the beauty and the song of the various birds. Elaine poured into the lives of her children and volunteered countless hours as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and as a 4-H leader. She was a member of the Czech Presbyterian Ladies Aid and, together with Ben, was a member of the Hilltop Mariners. Elaine attended the Christian Women’s Club in Wahoo and served on their leadership team. She faithfully served on the Chapman Precinct election board for over 30 years and was responsible for the delivery of the ballots to the Saunders County Courthouse. She worked at Reliable Services in Wahoo when her children were older. After she and Ben moved to Fremont, in 2006, they attended the Fremont Alliance Church, where she helped with Awana and attended Alliance Women. Even into her 80s, Elaine still felt the call to serve the Lord by serving others. Later as a resident at Providence Place, her light for Jesus shined brightly.

The Lord was a big part of her life. She tried to please the Lord in whatever she did. One of her greatest joys was her husband, Ben, who died in 2008. She was blessed with three daughters and a son, whom she loved dearly. They, along with her seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren were her greatest joy. She and Ben attended their many music and sports events, as health allowed. Elaine’s investment in her family was not only physical, but spiritual as well, as she spent countless hours in prayer for each of them. As a family, we await a glorious reunion with her because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Elaine was preceded in death by husband, Ben; infant son, Philip; parents, George and Amelia Buresh; parents-in-law, Joseph and Frances Pokorny; sister, Evelyn Trutna; brother, James Buresh; infant sister, Shirley Ann Buresh; sisters-in-law, Dorothy DuBois and Ruth Pokorny; brothers-in-law, Guy Anderson, Jim Trutna, and Gale DuBois.

She is survived by daughters, Karen (Kirk) Kavan; Laurie (Jim) Martens; and Janette (Doug) Stuart; and son, Jim (Lisa) Pokorny; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Dale (Sue) Buresh; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Memorials in Elaine’s honor may be sent to Assure Women’s Center in Omaha, NE and to the Fremont Alliance Church in Fremont, NE. Elaine had a heart for missions and to the furtherance of the Gospel. She also cared deeply for the lives of pre-born babies, as she was given the great privilege of adopting her sweet son from a woman who chose life.