Verna Jean Ruzicka, 89, of Loveland, CO, formerly of Ord died March 8, 2013, at the North Shore Health and Rehab.


Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ord Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Ord Bohemian Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Ord Memorial Chapel. Memorials may be given to Grandview Assisted Living Center in Ord or Pathways Hospice at 305 Carpenter Road, Ft. Collins, CO 80525. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.


Verna was born April 18, 1923, on a farm west of Ord, Nebraska to Rudolph and Clara (Bouda) Krahulik. She graduated from Ord High School in 1940, and then went to work for Mutual of Omaha.


Verna was married to her High School Sweetheart, Joe Ruzicka on May 12, 1942, at Tucson, AZ. After her husband was discharged from the service the couple lived in Grand Island for a short time. They moved to Ord and purchased Lola’s Hardware Store in 1945. They purchased the franchise for Coast to Coast in 1969, and moved their hardware store to the building known as Farmer’s store. In 1981, they sold the Coast to Coast store and retired.


Verna and Joe then traveled and went on bus trips to California, Minnesota, Washington D.C. and Florida. They enjoyed 57 wonderful years together before Joe passed away on June 20, 1999. Verna continued to make her home at Ord until moving to North Shore Health and Rehab August 17, 2012, in order to be closer to her loving family.


Verna was a member of the Presbyterian Church and involved in several of the church circles. She was also a member of the Eastern Star and a VFW auxiliary member. She enjoyed fishing with her husband and they both loved the horse races. She loved to play bridge, pull the slot machines, and play black jack with friends.


Survivors include a daughter, Ruth Jo Wert (Ruthie) and her husband Douglas of Loveland, CO., a grandson Michael Wert and his wife, Tina of Kersey, CO. a granddaughter, Kelly Jo Ross and her husband, Charlie of Ft. Collins, CO.; four great grandsons, Justin, Jesse, Jaydon and Derek; and one great granddaughter, Kadance.


Verna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe; a sister, Viola Mottl, and a brother, Harvey Krahulik.