Laura’s family moved to the Sandhills between Ericson and Burwell where they worked together to grow crops, put up hay, milk cows, and raise chickens and turkeys. At the age of 14, she left home to work as a live-in baby nurse and home keeper in Grand Island. At 15, Laura moved to Lincoln on a bus with $5 in her pocket to work as a maid in the Piedmont neighborhood. She next worked for the Elgin watch factory.
Always proud of her Czech heritage, Laura especially enjoyed attending polka dances at the Sunset Dance Hall, which is where she met her husband and best friend Emil Hynek. Emil and Laura were married in 1948, and enjoyed life together for the next 67 years. To this union, 2 children were born: Robert (“Bob”) and Diane. Laura worked as a homemaker until Bob and Diane were grown and later enjoyed work as a banquet waitress at the Cornhusker Hotel and the Holiday Inn. Emil and Laura especially enjoyed their time spent traveling to the Czech Republic, two World’s Fairs, and many polka bus tours across the U.S.A. and Mexico.
Laura was competitive from a young age and won contests of all types including an outdoor Christmas decoration contest, weekly TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) challenges, and countless BINGO games. She was perhaps best known for her hobby of competitive cooking and baking. She won first place in her division at the national Pillsbury Bake-Off competition, went to the National Chicken Cooking contest three times, won significant prizes in the National Beef Cook-Off, and competed for over forty years in the Nebraska State and Lancaster County Fairs (most often taking first place for her kolaches). Laura was a proud member of the Killer Bees, a Prairie Life Fitness water aerobics group for many years.
Laura was incredibly giving of her time and talents and was honored for having delivered meals for Tabitha’s Meals on Wheels program for over fifty years. She also regularly donated blood for over forty years, cooked for her church for fifteen years, and served as a leader for Bluebirds and Campfire Clubs.
Laura was courageous, loving, and had a knack for finding happiness in life’s simple moments. However, her greatest joy was the love of her husband Emil and the gift of being a mom to Bob and Diane, grandmother to four, and great-grandmother to eight. She was our foundation, our inspiration, and our friend. The lessons she taught us in life will remain a constant presence in our hearts, allowing her to remain with us always.
Laura is survived by her son, Bob (Deb) Hynek; daughter, Diane (Keith) Dietze; grandchildren, Karla (Mike) Swan, Ben (Ramzi) Hynek, Rick (Camille) Dietze, Amy (Jamie) Hix; eight great-grandchildren; all of Lincoln, and Sister-in-law Dorothy Hruza of Ord. Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Emil; her parents, Joseph and Augusta; and her siblings Richard/Alma, George, Joe/Rosie/Rita Hruza, and Adeline/Lonnie Nelson.
Memorial service will be at 10:30 on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Christ Methodist Church with visitation one hour prior. Memorials may be sent to Meals on Wheels.