Florence Rose (Placek) Duester, 93, of St. Paul, passed away peacefully at Brookefield Park in St. Paul on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

A Memorial Mass was held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. Father Vince Parsons was presiding. A Private Inurnment will be held in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Family greeted friends on Friday, April 12, 2024, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. A Rosary was recited at the church. Memorials are suggested to family to be designated at a later date. Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Florence was born on October 25, 1930, in Loup City, to Stanley and Vera (Leas) Placek. She attended rural country school in Sherman County, then graduated from Loup City High School in 1948. She moved to Omaha and worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. Later, she transferred to the Grand Island office.

On July 1, 1950, Florence married Melvin Duester at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. To this union, two children were born, Cynthia and Timothy. For many years Melvin and Florence farmed and milked cows in the Sherman and Howard county areas. Due to Melvin’s illness, they moved into St. Paul, where Melvin passed away after several years. Florence worked at the senior center for many years. After retiring, she moved into Parkside Plaza. Due to ill health, Florence moved to Brookefield Park in 2018.

Florence was a former member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Farwell and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. Florence loved to play pitch and pinochle. She enjoyed going for walks and attending all of her grandchildren’s sporting and school events.

She will be missed by her daughter and son-inlaw, Cindi and Ron Layher; grandson, Chris Layher and Kaylee Thomsen; granddaughters, Julie Layher and Heather Layher; great-grandchildren, Lexy, Owen, and Weston Schulte; granddaughter, Angie and Aaron Parker; great-grandchildren, Nolan and Emma Sundermeier and Cobin and Kinley Parker; son and daughter- in-law, Tim and Linda Duester; granddaughter, Megan and Jeff Schroder; great-grandson, Colton Schroder; grandson, Matt Duester and Joanna Frink; great-granddaughter, Paxton Frink; granddaughter, Macey Duester; grandson, Michael Duester and Jasmine Podany; great-grandson, Dillon Duester; sister, Frances Panowicz; sister-in-law, Dixie Placek.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin; fatherin- law and mother-in-law, Otto and Mary Duester; brothers and sister-in-law, Edward Placek, John and Dene Placek, and Alfred Placek; sisters and brothers- in-law, Stella and Bill Schimonitz and Marie and Joe Hoult; and brothersin- law and sisters-in-law, Clayton and Loretta Duester and Louis and Arlene Boehle.