Swanee J. Martin-Kacena

City of the Sioux

Swanee Juneann Martin-Kacena, 91, died Saturday, March 12, 2022, at a hospital in Sioux City.

In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place and a Christian burial mass will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Jackson, Neb., with Father Andrew Sohm officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. Visitation, with family present, will be held tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City. Online condolences can be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Swanee was born on October 12, 1930, in Wausa, Neb., to J. Howard and June (Embry) Schulte. She was baptized at St. Andrew’s Church in Bloomfield, Neb. Swanee graduated from Alveria High School in Chicago, Illinois. She returned home to work at the family-owned “Schulte Drug Store”, where she met her husband Harry “Bud” Martin. Their marriage was blessed with four sons and one daughter. Bud died in 1970. Three years later Swanee married Robert “Bob” Kacena.

Swanee has worked for Northwestern Bell, Kay Dee Veterinary Division and the Diocese of Sioux City. While married to Bob, the couple started Confidence Business Service, including Central Café in Hawarden, Allied Litho in Sioux City, contract egg producer for MG Waldbaum Company and Evergreen Pet Cremation, and retired at age 72, after 45 years of service.

Swanee was Catholic and a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Jackson, where she served as a Eucharistic minister and a member of the Altar Society.

After her husband Bob died in 2015, Swanee resided with Mark and Nancy Martin for more than two years before moving to an assisted living facility in Sioux City.

Swanee is survived by her four sons Mark (Nancy) Martin, Randy Martin, Rick (Ellen Maguire) Martin and Tim (Sue) Kacena; his daughter Patti (Charlie) Colling; seven grandsons Rich Martin, Louis (Kim) Martin, Jay Martin, Mitch (Emily) Martin, Cameron Martin, Michael (Katie) Colling and Tim (Lisa) Kacena; four granddaughters Missy (Nate) Colling-Leakey, Michele Hansen, Amy Kacena and Jasmyn Martin; 23 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; Brother J. Howard (Florence) Schulte; sister Tonee Hahne; and many nieces and nephews.

Swanee was preceded in death by her parents; and husbands.