Shirley Jean (Duba) Zalesky, age 87, previously of Bellevue, Neb., passed away November 4, 2022, at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, Neb.  Born November 21, 1934, in Friend, Neb., she was the second eldest of four children born to parents Albert and Esther (Engel) Duba.

Shirley was baptized on March 8, 1946, at the Wilber Methodist Church, Wilber, Neb., by Rev. K.O. Zavadil. She attended Nebraska country school at Fairview School District #57 and Pleasant Prairie District #64, and graduated in 1952 from Friend High School in Friend, Neb. Upon graduation, Shirley was employed at the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) office and the law offices of Steinacher and Vosoba in Wilber. She later worked at Formfit Rogers in Crete, Neb.

Shirley met her husband, Jimmie Lou Zalesky of Wilber, Neb., on Valentine's Day, 1954, at a polka dance in the Milligan Auditorium, Milligan, Neb. They were united in marriage on September 28, 1954, at the United Methodist Church in Friend, Neb. The couple shared their love of polka music and dancing by attending many dances at the Sokol Hall in South Omaha, Neb., and various other dance halls in southwest Nebraska. They enjoyed traveling together, visiting many states west of the Mississippi River, including Hawaii, Alaska and even traveled to Japan. In 1970, they moved from Wilber to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and then Bellevue, Neb., where they reared their children. Shirley spent the last six years living at the Good Samaritan Society in Millard, Neb., after breaking her leg in a fall at her Bellevue home.

She is survived by two children Jimmie D. (Addie) Zalesky of Lincoln, Neb., and Tammy J. Parsons of Papillion, Neb.; grandchildren Jimmie L.S. (Jessica) Zalesky of Ashland, Neb., Jeremiah J. Zalesky of Bloomington, Ind., and Joslyn A. Parsons of Federal Way, Wash.; great grandchildren Jacob and Janessa Zalesky; sister Esther M. Tupa of Wilber, Neb.; sisters-in-law Darlene Mead of Friend, Neb. and Darlene D. Zalesky of Wilber, Neb., and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Jimmie L.; parents Albert and Esther Duba; in-laws James T. and Georgia A. Zalesky; daughter-in-law Glenda "Jeri" (Romero) Zalesky; grandchildren Jesse R.S. Zalesky and Jillian Sade L. Zalesky; sister and brother-in-law Darlene F. and William "Bill" F. Slezak; brother and sister-in-law Delbert W. and Carol L. Duba; brothers-in-law Jimmy R. Tupa, William "Bill" G. Zalesky and Robert "Bob" Mead; and niece Katherine (Tupa) Bedient.

Services will be held Friday, November 11, 2022 at 10:30 AM at Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber, Neb. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services. Interment will be at the Wilber Czech Cemetery following the service. Memorials may be made to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging Meals on Wheels, 4780 South 131 ^st St., Omaha NE 68137 or online at enoa.org, or to the Hospice House Omaha, 7415 Cedar St., Omaha NE  68124 or online at HospiceHouseOmaha.org.  Please write "Memorial for Shirley Zalesky" on memo line of checks.  Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber.