Mary Ann Zavadil

Mary Ann Zavadil, age 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, on Friday, October 23, 2026 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Crofton, Nebraska with Reverend Eliot Schwer officiating. Burial will be in the Beaver Creek Cemetery in rural Crofton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Mass from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton, South Dakota.

Mary Ann was born on May 29, 1931, to John and Mary (Arens) Van Heek, Mary Ann grew up on the family farm southwest of Crofton, Nebraska. She attended St. Rose School and Crofton High School and graduated from Mount Marty High School. On November 23, 1954, she was united in marriage to Lawrence Zavadil.

On the Zavadil homestead northeast of Crofton, Lawrence and Mary Ann built a life, farmed the land, and raised their seven children: Dave, Sue, Duane, Larry, Jean, Judy, and Bill. She and Lawrence were true partners, working through many difficult times to keep the farm running and provide for their family. They shared 65 wonderful years together until Lawrence’s passing in July 2020.

As her children grew older, Mary Ann worked outside the home, working seasonally at Gurney’s Seed and Nursery before spending 20 years at Ace Hardware in Yankton. A devoted member of St. Rose Parish, she participated in the Altar Society and the Catholic Daughters, and regularly joined Lawrence as a lector at mass service.

Mary Ann created a warm, loving home. Each morning, she woke her children for school with a cheerful proclamation: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Her children fondly remember returning home from school to the comforting aroma of fresh-baked bread, rolls, or cookies.

Truly selfless, Mary Ann always put others first, asking nothing for herself and doing anything for her family. She valued education and encouraged her children to pursue their passions, often reminding them, "God may not have given you much (material things), but He gave you brains—so use them."

Mary Ann adored children, especially her grandchildren. Summers were filled with visits that turned her home into a lively whirlwind of activity, and she treasured every moment. She always kept her cookie jar full—with backup cookies stowed in the freezer in case the jar emptied before she could make more. She found great joy in life's simple pleasures: family picnics, dancing, playing cards, her many "grand-dogs," the smiles of children, and, above all, babies. Spunky and quick-witted, she was known for her fun, irreverent humor, and her famous comeback line: "Well, whoopie".

Guided by her favorite prayer—the Serenity Prayer—Mary Ann lived with grace and acceptance. She never dwelled on petty details, choosing instead to roll with whatever came her way. Though her days were long and busy, especially while raising her seven children, she lightened her load by singing and humming hymns as she worked.

Mary Ann is survived by her children: daughter-in-law, Barbara (widow of Dave Zavadil) of Crofton, NE, with grandchildren: Clint, Dillion, and Jesse; Sue (Russ Pearson) of Yankton, SD, with grandchildren: Jake, Sarah and Beth; Duane (Glenda) Zavadil of Sedalia, CO, with grandchildren: Anya, Ben, and Thomas; Larry Zavadil (Paula Bowman) of Salida, CO, with grandchildren: Dalton, Griffin, and Weston; Jean (Alan) Ryan of Iowa City, IA, with grandchild, Nathan; Judy (Bruno Boursier) of Dublin, CA, with grandchildren: Noah and Micah; and Bill (Karla) Zavadil of Omaha, NE, with grandchildren: Daniel, Kelli, Ryan, and Joe. She was also blessed with and survived by 16 great-grandchildren; and her favorite brother, Jake Van Heek.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lawrence; her son, Dave; her grandsons, Cody and Benjamin; two sisters, Hilaria (Vick) Steffen and Sylvia (Sr. Colette) Van Heek; and sister-in-law, Norma Van Heek.