Esther Marie (Duba) Tupa, age 90, peacefully entered her heavenly home on July 13, 2026, at the Wilber Care Center.

Esther was born on May 3, 1936, in Friend, Nebraska, to Albert and Esther (Engel) Duba. She attended Fairview School District #57 and Pleasant Prairie District #64 before graduating from Friend High School in 1953. Following graduation, she worked on the family farm.

On September 15, 1955, Esther married Jimmy Tupa. Together they built a loving family and were blessed with four children: Katherine, Eugene, Cindy, and Diana.

Esther found joy in polka dancing and listening to polka music, gardening, canning, bird watching, babysitting her grandchildren, cheering them on at their sporting events, and making her daily trip downtown for morning coffee. She also had a special love for cats. Whether they were her own or simply strays that wandered by, she welcomed and cared for them with kindness.

Esther will be remembered for her kind heart, unwavering love for her family, and the joy she found in life's simple pleasures.

Esther was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jimmy; her daughter, Katherine; her parents, Albert and Esther Duba; in-laws, Robert and Alice Tupa; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Darlene and William Slezak and Shirley and Jimmie Zalesky; her brother and sister-in-law, Delbert and Carol Duba; her granddaughters, Danielle Lempka and Ashley Dean; and her son-in-law, Gary Wollenburg.

Esther is survived by her son, Eugene (Nancy) Tupa; her daughters, Cindy Wollenburg and Diana (Tim) Lempka; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family members.

Services will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber. Visitation is Wednesday from 5 - 7 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cottonwood Hospice in Esther's memory.

Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber.