LAWANNA LEA HAJEK

Lawanna Lea (Wasser) Hajek, age 94, of Sidney, NE passed away at Sidney Regional Medical Center-Extended Care on Friday, August 23, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held on September 16, 2024 at Gehrig-Stitt Chapel in Sidney, NE. Inurnment will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery. Services will be livestreamed on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Facebook page and recorded for later viewing on our website.

Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel to leave condolences for the family, no formal visitation is planned. In lieu of flowers, a Memorial has been established to the Cheyenne County Community Center.

You may view LaWanna's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Lawanna's care and funeral arrangements.

LaWanna Lea was born on August 11, 1930 in Chadron, NE to Thelma (Tracy) and Leonard Wasser. She graduated from Sidney High School in 1950, and immediately married the love of her life, John Jr Hajek. LaWanna and John spent the first 15 years of their marriage in Sidney living on Country Club Drive. In 1965, when the Sioux Army Depot closed, they packed up their lives and moved to Herlong California. Although they lived in California for 8 years, their hearts were back in Nebraska. As soon as John retired, they moved back to Sidney.

LaWanna lost her parents early in her life and was raised by her Grandparents Burnell and Jessie Tracy. She lost her love and life partner 37 years ago. She has missed him every day since then.

She is predeceased in death by her husband John Jr Hajek, two sisters, Winifred (Tracy) Davison and Beverly (Wasser) Sawyer and all her brothers- and sisters-in-law.

LaWanna will be missed by her children, Cyndie (Jeff) Hogg, Christie (Bob) Smith, John (Lavon) Hajek, and LuAnna (Craig) Hagerman. Her grandchildren – as she called them her 5-J's, Johnny (Jordan) Hajek, Jessica (Shane) Sick, Justin Hagerman, Jason Hagerman, and Joshua (Brittany) Hagerman. And especially her 8 great grandchildren – Jeremiah, Kynnady, Shayde, Jonathan, Joel, Ryder, Kyra, and Abigail. LaWanna's occupation was Grandma and she thrived in that role. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were everything to her. She also will be missed by her many nieces/nephews, the extra kids she called her own, and her extended family.

A special thanks go out to Sloan's Assisted Living, SRMC Long-Term Care (LTC), and the Hospice of the Plains in Sidney. We will always be indebted to all three facilities, but especially the Hospice and LTC for their loving care and attention in LaWanna's final days.

Lea credited the Cheyenne County Community Center (CCCC) with giving her 24 additional years, when following major heart complications, she enrolled in the Center's senior exercise programs. She wanted to remind anyone that would listen: it isn't too late to start exercising. She started at the age of 70. In Lieu of Flowers, a memorial has been established in Lea's name. Donations may be made to: CCCC, 627 Toledo St, Sidney NE 69162. Please notate on the check memo "In Memory of Lea Hajek".

LAWANNA LEA HAJEK