Norma Jean (Curtis) Paloucek of Holyoke, Colorado, died October 18, 2026, in North Platte, Nebraska, at the age of 84. Norma was born May 31, 1942, to Ben and Lucy Curtis in Ogallala, Nebraska. She graduated from Ogallala High School in 1960. Norma married Frank Paloucek of Ogallala in 1961. They are the parents of five children: Cheryl, Caroll (who died in infancy), James, Joan, and John.

After getting married, Norma worked briefly as a waitress and pitched in on Frank and his father’s farming operation in the Ogallala area. With the birth of her first child in 1963, Norma embraced motherhood and caring for her family, which from then forward was her life-long priority. Norma and Frank moved to the Holyoke area in 1967 where Frank and his brother farmed until retiring in 1993. Norma and Frank celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary just before he died at the end of 2019.

Norma grew up playing six-point pitch with her parents and siblings, a pastime that continued while she raised her family. There were no larger card-playing outbursts than when someone went set because Norma had a queen of trump four cards deep with which she took the bidder’s jack on the last trick. Attending her kids’ and later grandkids’ sporting events was one of her life’s joys. She was her kids’ and grandkids’ biggest fan and supporter in all their undertakings. Until her death, she attended and enjoyed Holyoke Dragons and Ogallala Indians games every chance she got.

Norma took fantastic care of her family. She was a great cook and early in her marriage learned Bohemian recipes that graced her tables while her kids grew up and for decades after. Her dumplings and sauerkraut were legendary. Until the injuries and illnesses that hampered the last three months of her life, she would occasionally lay hands upon a beef tongue that she would prepare with sour cream gravy as a special treat for her and those lucky enough to be asked to partake. Nothing prompted her gorgeous smile like compliments on a meal she had prepared. She was a meticulous and fastidious housekeeper. Her home and yard were immaculately clean and orderly. She tolerated the river rock that Frank insisted upon instead of grass at the home they built in approximately 2010; she was extremely pleased with the lawn that replaced the stones after Frank died.

Norma was a worrier and a fidgeter, forever remembering something that required checking, a task to tend to, or a countertop that should be wiped again. But when you walked through her front door, she had a big smile and hug for you, and you were the center of her attention. She had a close circle of friends; their companionship was one of her most valued treasures. She followed and rooted for the Broncos, Rockies, and Cornhusker volleyball – probably football, too, but did not want too many people to know it. She enjoyed traveling, visiting all the continents except Antarctica. She was an enthusiastic celebrator of successes and a comforting presence when disappointment and loss happened. She loved and enjoyed her friends and community. She understood and genuinely appreciated the care and help so generously extended to her the past few years by so many who never sought, and would probably be embarrassed by, acknowledgement – but to whom her family is eternally grateful.

Norma loved nothing more than helping and enjoying her family. She concerned herself more with their needs than her own. She would figure out how to be of service and then do it. She cut Frank’s hair during the entirety of their marriage, and her sons’ until they left home. She cared for Frank in their home for 18 months after his stroke. She checked in with regular phone calls and text messages and kept up with all her family members’ birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings. She attended her youngest grandchild’s wedding in Omaha this past summer. All of her children and their spouses and almost all of her grandchildren, their spouses, and her great grandchildren were there. Hugs and kisses all around and dances with the great grandkids were the order of the weekend for Norma who returned home exhausted and with a broad smile on her face.

Norma lived a remarkable life and enjoyed it immensely, almost as much as she blessed the lives of those she loved.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; husband, Frank; and infant daughter, Caroll. She is survived by her children Cheryl (Phil) Breidenbach of Aiken, South Carolina; Jim (Malinda) Paloucek of North Platte, Nebraska; Joanie Fuller of Lincoln, Nebraska; and John (Juli) Paloucek of Ogallala, Nebraska; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Norma’s wishes, her remains were cremated and Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Holyoke, Colorado, on November 14, 2026 – rosary at 10:00 a.m., mass at 10:30 a.m., and lunch to follow mass.