Lucille Marie (Horinek) Stevens

Lucille Marie (Horinek) Stevens died peacefully in Loveland, CO on July 21, 2021.  Lucille joined her husband of 70 years, Ernest Stevens, only a few weeks following his death.  She was a wonderful mother to 4 children, and a beloved grandmother to 6 grandchildren and 1 step-grandchild.

Lucille was born on July 7th, 1927 (with twin sister Helen) in Stratton, NE. The sisters spent the first 2 years of their lives living in a sod home on the prairies of northern Kansas.  She was the eldest child of 5 kids, on a family farm north of Atwood, KS.  Lucille attended Pleasant Lawn Grade School, a 1 room country schoolhouse, before moving into town to later graduate from Atwood High School in 1945. After receiving a Diploma in Nursing at St. John’s Nursing School of Salina, Kansas (1948), Lucille began her nursing career at St Catherine’s Hospital in McCook, NE. 

On a double date with her twin sister, she met the love of her life, Ernie Stevens.  Lucille and Ernie married in September of 1950.  She went on to work part time as they started their family, which grew to include 2 boys and 2 girls.  The family moved to Casper, WY in 1971 where she enjoyed picnics in the mountains, fishing at Alcova Lake, and dancing the night away. Due to Ernie’s career change they returned to Nebraska in 1977. She spent this time visiting family, working alongside Ernie as they traveled with his job for Grolier, one of the largest American publishers of general encyclopedias.

Lucille and Ernie settled into retirement in the late 1980’s as they moved to Loveland, CO.  Over the years, she and Ernie sashayed their way through 100+ dance halls. Ernie supported Lucille’s love of fashion by helping her pick out the prettiest dresses for their outings.  Lucille enjoyed playing bridge and attending “SilverSneakers” classes with her numerous friends. She was an accomplished cook, great pie maker, and excellent gardener.

Lucille often spoke fondly of memories fishing with her mother at Trenton Dam in Nebraska, trips to Europe with her younger brother Ernie, and mastering the sport of small boat sailing.  She was proud to have raised 4 children (all of whom received advanced degrees). Although Lucille was married to a Protestant, she remained a committed Catholic.

Along with her devoted husband Ernie, she was preceded in death by her parents Adolph F. Horinek and Mary Marie (Dozbaba) Horinek, and twin sister Helen (Horinek) Wenzl.

Lucille is survived by her siblings Virginia (Horinek) Burk (John: deceased), Stephanie (Horinek) Esposito (Andrew: deceased), A.J Horinek (Marjorie), Ernest Horinek (Joan) and Delbert Wenzl (brother-in-law). Other survivors include children David Lee Stevens (Takane), Duane Allen Stevens (Valentyna), Carol Jean (Stevens) Tweedy (Charles: deceased), and Janet Marie (Stevens) Mercer (Michael), and her 6 grandchildren and 1 step-grandchild, Prescott Tweedy (Nicole),  Austin Stevens, Samuel Mercer, Cameron Stevens, Colin Tweedy, Thomas Mercer, and Mika Fish.

A Catholic Mass will be held for Lucille in Atwood, KS on September 3, 2021 at 4 pm. Graveside services for both Lucille and Ernie will be held on September 4, 2021 at 1:00 PM at  the Fairview Cemetery, Cambridge, NE. Their                                             

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