Kay Lynn (Cihak) Kammer, age 76, of Bloomfield, Nebraska, died on Sunday, October 11, 2026 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton.

Mass of Christian Burial was October 17 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton with Reverend Tom Anderson officiating. Burial was in the Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Nebraska.

Kay was born on July 5, 1950 to Thomas Anton Cihak and Olga Pauline (Nedved) Cihak in Wagner. She grew up on a farm outside of Dante alongside her three sisters Karen, Kathy, and Kari. Many of her stories about growing up focused on special outings with her family, good times and being playful with her sisters, cousins, and friends, and working hard on the family farm.

Kay graduated from Avon High School in 1968 and graduated from Mitchell Technical College. She eventually moved to Yankton. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Dennis. She and Dennis were married on November 10, 1973 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton. As newlyweds, she joined Dennis on his family farm, where they have lived together making it their family farm.

Kay worked a number of different jobs over the years including Gurney’s Seed and Nursery, Bloomfield Community Schools, and most recently at the Nebraska Child Support Call Center, where she worked as a supervisor and eventually retired. Besides her jobs in town, she was a central part of the family farm, often out driving a tractor or helping to manage the cattle operation. She was excited to be one of the first in the area to raise purebred Belted Galloways, and continuing on to raise both black and red angus herds.

Kay was a faithful person. As a young woman, she often led the rosary. She served on the Altar Society, assisted with the fall supper and other events, coordinated food baskets, and coordinated catechism for several years at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Bloomfield, NE. Prayer and lighting votive candles for those in need was an important part of Kay’s life. Service was also important to Kay, which led her to many volunteer roles including serving eight years on the Bloomfield Community School Board, as an election poll worker, and with 4-H.

Most important in her life was family. Kay was incredibly proud of being a mother to her four children: Heidi, Roy, Matthew, and Joshua and as a grandmother to her grandchildren Emily “Em”, Grace, Miles, Harper, Holden, and Hazley and grandpups, Kade and Annie. She welcomed many into the family, becoming a second mom and friend to many. She and Dennis weathered a lot over the years, but their love remained strong through it all. In their almost fifty-three years of marriage, they rarely spent a day apart and offered anyone who knew them a glimpse of what truly everlasting love and friendship look like.

Kay was proud of her Czech-Bohemian heritage. She had a good sense of humor, loved to make others smile, and was always concerned to make sure everyone was doing OK. She enjoyed watching football and westerns, growing f lowers, baking, motorcycling, listening to country music, going for rides to check the cattle, up town for a treat, or just about anywhere to get out and about to enjoy the scenery, travelling to see her kids and grandchildren, and planning family get togethers at the farm. She will be remembered as a strong, caring, smart, generous, and hard-working woman, and her values for family, education, farming, animals, and service will be carried on by those who love her.

Kay is survived in death by her loving husband, Dennis; her children: Heidi (Vince) Kammer-Hodge, Roy Kammer, Matthew (Julie Dixen) Kammer, and Joshua (Keli) Kammer; her grandchildren: Emily “Em” Hodge, Grace Hodge, Miles Day, Harper Kammer, Holden Kammer, and Hazley Kammer; grandpups, Kade and Annie; close family friend, Tyler Tretbar; sisters Kathy Braunesreither and Kari (Don) Kaiser; nieces and nephews: Brandie (Shane) Simonsen, Liz (Stan) Wrobleski, Kory Braunesreither, and Ben Kaiser; special cousins, JoEllen (Rob) Edwards and Regina (Richard) Dufur; and many other extended family and friends.

Kay was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Cihak; mother, Olga Cihak; two infant children; sister, Karen Cihak; brother-in-law, Marvin Braunesreither; cousin, Dennis (Pat) Cihak, and numerous beloved pets.

To send an online message to the family, please visit www. wintzrayfuneralhome.com.