Margaret Reece

Margaret was born March 20, 1921 in Wilsonburg, West Virginia to Czechoslovakian immigrants, Louis and Victoria Kuhar and was the youngest of ten children. She graduated from Victory High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1939. She then moved to Shelton, Connecticut where she married George Shepard on September 5, 1942.



George was in the Army and after his death at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in June of 1943, Margaret enlisted in the Navy Service as a WAVE “Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service” in September of 1943 at a recruiting station in Derby, Connecticut. She enlisted for the “duration” and on October 21, 1943 entered active service for boot camp at Hunter’s College in Bronx, NY which was converted into the U.S. Naval Training School (WR) during WWII. She was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Moffett Field, California working in the airport control tower doing work similar to what air traffic controllers do today. She used radios to control all planes and lighter than air (i.e. blimps) into and out of the airport. The blimps from Moffett Field patrolled the southern part of the West Coast during WWII.



During her time at Moffett Field, she met Paul W. Reece who was also in the Navy. Margaret was honorably discharged as a Specialist (Y) Third Class on December 3, 1945. Margaret and Paul married in January of 1946 and moved to Omaha, Nebraska where they raised two sons, Paul and Will, and one daughter, Suzy. Margaret went on to have a career as a seamstress, first at Natelson’s and then at Zoob’s. In her later years, she enjoyed crocheting and spending time with family and friends.



Margaret loved God, her country, and her family. She was a member of Northwest Hills United Church of Christ and the Women’s Association and was an Associate Member of Hannah Circle. She was active in the Omaha community as a life member of American Legion Benson Post #112 where she marched in many parades as part of the color guard and carried the American flag; a life member of VFW Benson Post 2503 Auxiliary; a member of America Rebekah Lodge; and an associate member of Bell Rebekah Lodge.



Margaret (Kuhar) Shepard Reece, 101, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 5, 2022 in Sutton, Nebraska, after a brief illness.



She is survived by her children, Will (Donna) Reece and Suzy (Butch) Hassler; grandsons, Paul C. Reece and Joseph Reece; granddaughter, Madison Reece; honorary daughters, Gayle Reece and Barb Hagelstein; and numerous friends and family members.



Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Victoria Kuhar; husbands, George Shepard and Paul W. Reece; son, Paul G. Reece; grandson, Thomas Reece; five brothers; four sisters; and special friend, Elroy Mander.



Interment and graveside services will be Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park, 5701 Center St., Omaha, Nebraska.



Memorials have been established.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnagentleman.com