Venus L. (Tuma) Kriski, 94, formerly of Grand Island, NE recently of New Castle Retirement Center in Omaha, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2013. Funeral service will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island with Father Richard Pointkowski celebrating. Burial will follow at the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday 4-8 P.M. with a Rosary service at 7:00 P.M. at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary's Cathedral or donor's choice.

Venus was born July 3, 1918 to James W. and Anna J. (Moravec) Tuma, Sr. in Elba, NE. She graduated from Elba High School and the St. Paul Business College. She married Joseph S. Kriski on August 25, 1941. They made their home at St. Paul before moving to Grand Island where Joseph was manager of the Federal Land Bank Association Office. Venus was employed at the Agricultural Adjustment Administration at St. Paul, the War Department in the Office of the Quartermaster General at Washington, D.C., the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant in Grand Island, and performed secretarial work until her retirement when she became a volunteer. She was the local health promotion coordinator for the American Association of Retired Person (AARP) for 10 years.

She was an avid bridge player and played with various groups. She received a trophy in a tournament aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. She also enjoyed travels in her Dae Woo. In 1930, she and her sister Lillian were passengers in a two-seated, open cockpit airplane piloted by their brother James at the Grand Island Airport, where he was manager. Their parents watched from the hangar. She was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral, Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, Liederkranz Ladies, the YWCA, AARP, and an-over-50 year member of the Grand Island Woman's Club.

Venus is survived by her son, Randall Kriski of Omaha, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, great-grand nieces and nephews, and great great-grand nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph in 1971; sisters, Lucille Cargill, Lillian Lombard, Anna Belle Tuma; brothers, James Tuma, William Tuma, Henry Tuma, Charles Tuma, Ernest Tuma; and twins, Alfred and Alice Tuma.


Funeral service will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island with Father Richard Pointkowski celebrating. Burial will follow at the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday 4-8 P.M. with a Rosary service at 7:00 P.M. at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary's Cathedral or donor's choice.