Gerald 'Jerry' Joseph Kuklis

Gerald “Jerry” Kuklis of Cozad passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at Cozad Community Hospital. Jerry, nicknamed Corky as a baby, was born April 1, 1951 to Joseph and Sylvia (Nagorski) Kuklis. He graduated from Cozad High School in 1969. He went on to post-secondary education in Omaha, Nebraska where studied auto body technology and then became employed at New Holland in Lexington, Nebraska. In 1976, Jerry married Cindy Jack. The couple had two children, Ceslie and Joelie. Jerry and Cindy successfully owned and operated Circle S Restaurant for fourteen years. After selling the restaurant, Jerry worked at Monroe for several years until the plant closed. Jerry enjoyed small-town living. He enjoyed spending time with family, visiting with friends, and swearing at the Huskers. Jerry loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed tinkering with the boat and fishing poles. In his younger years, Jerry handmade fishing lures and sold them at local businesses. Over the years, Jerry received several Master Angler awards for his biggest catches, three of which were stuffed and proudly displayed in the lobby of the restaurant. In recent years Jerry enjoyed his role as grill master and BINGO caller at the Cozad Grand Generation Center. He looked forward to seeing and visiting with his friends at cardiac rehab. Jerry was known by his family as a great story-teller and wonderful cook. His family always looked forward to his beer-battered fish frys after a fruitful fishing expedition. Jerry was preceded in death by his mother, Sylvia Kuklis, sister Cecilia Williams, brother-in-law David Barela, and special friend, Cindy Kuklis. Jerry is lovingly survived by his daughters Ceslie Kuklis of Laveen, AZ and Joelie Kuklis of Aurora, CO; father Joseph Kuklis of Cozad, NE; brother Michael (Michael Daudier) Kuklis of Lake Worth Beach, FL; sister Ramona (Phil) Griffith of Carbondale, CO; brother Dan (Janna) Kuklis of Grand Island, NE; sister LaDonna (Russ Besmer) Barela of Cozad, NE; brother Jeff (Stacy) Kuklis of Milford, NE; and special family friend Coco Cañas of Cozad; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to Cozad Grand Generation Center. Memorial book signing will be Monday, October 19, 2020 from 9 am to 5 pm at Berryman Funeral Home. Cremation was chosen. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 10:30 am at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel. Inurnment at Cozad Cemetery.