Joan Svoboda

Joan (Brecka)Svoboda, 87, of David City, passed away Monday, August 3, 2026 at St. Joseph's Villa in David City, NE.  

A visitation will be held Friday, August 7th from 5-7pm with a 7pm Catholic Daughter's Rosary Service all at St. Mary's Church in David City. Visitation will continue from 9-10am on Saturday, August 8th with the Funeral Mass starting at 10am at St. Mary's Catholic Church.  Burial will follow the at Appleton Assumption Catholic Cemetery. Lunch will follow at the David City Auditorium. Memorials can be made out to Family Wishes for later designation. 

Joan was born on March 23, 1939 on the farm near Rescue, NE to Anton and Barbara(Roubal) Brecka. She attended Country School #73 from K-8th Grade, then went to Prague High School grades 9-10 and completed high school at David City High School. Joan was united in marriage to Valerian Svoboda on May 1, 1957 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Abie, NE. They were married for 69 years, 3 months, and 2 days. 

She had many jobs throughout her life including Henningson Foods, Butler County Court House, Ohlinger Drug Store, Butler County Fair, Laddies Bar, 67 years as an election poll worker, Amway, Sara Coventry and St. Mary's Church. Joan also worked along side Valerian on the farm.  She was a long time member of Appleton Assumption Church, the PCCW, choir and Catholic Daughter's. 

Joan had a passion for hybrid irises, TV soap operas, Nebraska sports, generations of nephews in wrestling, recreational gambling, family gatherings, playing cards, traveling, and Polka dancing.  Hobbies included genealogy and creating the Brecka/Roubal Family Tree Book. Friday night fish dinners always brought a smile to her face. 

She was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and an avid supporter of the Indian Mission. As an angel of many, Appleton Cemetery was more colorful because she made sure all the unattended graves were decorated for Memorial Day. Her strudel, potato salad, cinnamon rolls, kolaches, and cranberry apple salad received great praise, and she relished sharing her skills. The priests benefited from the delicious holiday meals she prepared for them. Joan was always well dressed, intellectual, kind, generous, and possessed an elegance that was inspired by her inner grace. She was even crowned Miss Abie in 1955. 

Survivors include her husband: Valerian; sisters-in-law: Elaine Brecka, Sharon Brecka, Elsie Ponec, Margie Svoboda; brother-in-law: Kenneth Stara; Godchildren: Keith Stara, Diana(Stara) Worm, Brian Stara, Scott Stara, Bonnie(Svoboda) Broeker, Kim(Svoboda) Shore, Drlynn(DeWispelare) Bullock, Patricia(Kozisek) Mispagel, and Taeja(Shore) Nickolite; foreign exchange student: Lenka Puskarova; many nieces, nephews, family and friends. 

Joan was preceded in death by her parents: Anton & Barbara Brecka; father & mother-in-law: Anton & Stacie(Sabata) Svoboda; sisters: Maggie Hlavac, Betty Stara; brothers: Eugene Brecka, Anton Brecka; and god-daughter/niece: Brenda Stara.