James Kudrna, 41, of Leigh, Nebraska, was taken to his heavenly home on Sunday, June 21, 2009, at the Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, after a long battle with cancer.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 25 at 10:30 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church (14 north), with Rev. Brad Birtell officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Thursday from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service on Thursday at 10:15 AM at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Church or those of family choice.

James was born August 30, 1967, in Columbus, Nebraska, to Donald and Anna Mae (Meyer) Kudrna. James was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Leigh, Nebraska. James attended Zion Lutheran Grade School where he was a member of the last class to graduate from the eighth grade before the school was closed. In 1985, James graduated from Leigh High School where he was a member of the 1984 D1 championship football team. He went on to college at Kearney State College in Kearney, Nebraska. In 1991, James graduated from the new University of Nebraska at Kearney with a degree in Aviation/Airway Systems Management and Operations. In August of 1991, James began his career with the airlines when he began working at GP Express in Grand Island, Nebraska.

James was united in marriage to Kim Gleason on October 26, 1991, in St. Paul, Nebraska. In October of 1995, James started working for Sun Country Airlines out of Minneapolis, and in 1995 began his career with Northwest Airlines where he was currently employed as a pilot. James also worked for Abbott Pole Maintenance of Creston, Nebraska, was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, a lifelong farmer, and an avid softball player and fan.

James is survived by:
Wife - Kim Kudrna of Leigh, NE
Daughters - Karlie, Sarah, and Meranda Kudrna of Leigh, NE
Parents - Donald and Anna Mae Kudrna of Leigh, NE
Sister - Roxanne (Mike) Bayer of Litchfield, IL
Sister - Paulette (Steve) Comer of Colorado Springs, CO
Father-in-law - Bob Gleason of Leigh, NE
Mother-in-law - Connie Nickel of St. Paul, NE
Brother-in-law - Rodney (Carol) Gleason of Omaha, NE
Niece - April Bayer of Litchfield, IL
Aunts, Uncles, and cousins


James was preceded in death by:
Grandparents