MINNEOLA - Norma Jean (Krikava) Vrtiska was born on a farm south of Virginia, Nebraska on October 24, 1927. She is the daughter of Ludvik and Emma (Blecha) Krikava. She was a High School graduate of Lewiston, Nebraska and attended Peru State Teacher's College. She taught in the Elementary schools of Gage and Pawnee Counties in Nebraska; spent the last year of teaching the Junior High classes in the Virginia Consolidated Schools of Nebraska and coached the girl's High School Volleyball team there.

She married John Vrtiska, and raised her family in Beatrice, Nebraska. In 1956 John was transferred to Minneola, Kansas as District Welder for the Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America. Norma was employed as clerk of the Corner Store in Minneola for a couple of years and then was hired by the Minneola Clinic. After two years of service there she accepted being the receptionist for the Minneola Hospital. She maintained the front office, medical records, and insurance. She was retained in this capacity for twenty years and after retiring from this position, she was elected to the Minneola City Council for a term of six years.

She enjoyed her retirement by continuing her bowling, quilting, gardening, oil painting, crossword puzzles and cooking special Czechoslovakian dishes for her family. She delighted in taking care of her fish pond.

She was a member of the American Bowling congress for fifty years and also was an avid bowler for that many years as well; a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Dodge City, belonged to the Legion Auxiliary in Minneola, active in group membership of the Audubon Club, The National Geographic Society, and the Smithsonian Institute.

To this union five siblings were born: John Norman, James Leon, Gregory Gene and Cindy Lou born in Beatrice, Nebraska. Lisa Maria was born in Dodge City, Kansas.

Deceased family members are husband John, passed away March 25, 2000 and daughter Cindy, who parted life July 1, 2014. In 2015 on December 23rd daughter, Lisa Maria passed away. Grandson Andrew Gene, son of Gregory, left us on August 4, 1998.

Survivors: Three sons, John & Bobbi, James & Kathy, Greg & Marsha, Eleven grandchildren, four step grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, nineteen step great grandchildren.

Memorial graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, November 27, 2017 at the Appleton Township Cemetery, Minneola, with Fr. Ted Skalsky presiding. There will be no public viewing, cremation has taken place.

The family suggests memorials to Cancer Centers of America in care of Minnis Mortuary, P.O. Box 459, Minneola, Kansas 67865.