Leona Eleanor Kucher

It is with great sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Leona Eleanor Kucher (nee Hutton), on May 26th, 2026 at Neepawa Hospital with family near her side.

Leona was born October 28, 1937 in Dauphin, Manitoba.  Due to work availability, her parents moved to several communities in Manitoba including Minnedosa.  In 1944, her parents, and her sister made their home in Rossburn, Manitoba where she was raised.  After graduating from high school she attended Brandon College (now University) in 1955.  She utilized her teacher certificate throughout her working life in Onanole and Churchill, Manitoba (where her love of polar bears created her greatest collections).

In 1956, while waitressing at Wigwam Restaurant in Riding Mountain National Park, she met her future husband Frank Kucher whom she married on May 10, 1957 at her parents home in Rossburn.  They started their married life in Virden, MB and in 1962, with four young children in tow, they purchased and moved to the farm property east of Onanole where they raised their family and shared their lives until Frank's passing in 2014.  In 2017, Leona moved to her retirement home in Neepawa, Manitoba until her passing.

Throughout her life, Leona was a devoted participant in the United Church, especially her active leadership in many communities in different roles both locally and nationally and the United Church Choirs.  In Neepawa, she was an active Chairperson for the UCW and NUASM (Neepawa United Anglican Shared Ministries) committees.  She chaired her last meeting with NUASM one week before her passing.

Leona also had an adventurous spirit.  Whenever there was an opportunity to travel, she embraced it.  She visited her children wherever they lived, as well as her sister Elaine, taking her to such places as Victoria, Fort McMurray, Creston, Kelowna, Calgary, Brochet, Lynn Lake, Thompson and Ottawa, to name a few.  Later, in her late seventies and early eighties, her travels took her to the Caribbean, Hawaii, New Orleans, Newfoundland, Yukon, Alaska, England, Ireland and Scotland.  Stonehenge was a highlight in England and her time in Scotland was especially meaningful, as she was able to connect with her ancestral roots.  Leona had a deep interest in genealogy and spent many years researching her family history.

In her spare time, Leona enjoyed playing canasta, putting together jigsaw puzzles, completing crossword puzzles, reading, and attending plays, music festivals, fairs and other community events.  One of her most recent adventures came in 2025 when she attended the Portage La Prairie air show with family.  It was there that she decided she simply had to fly in the Tiger Moth biplane.  She booked the flight, and with family members watching, she took to the skies at Brandon Airport at the youthful age of 87.

She leaves to mourn and will be greatly missed by her children:  Deb (Vic) Hlushak and sons Sean and Jayme and their families; Sandra Gunn (Randy Carson) and her son Brad and daughter Shannon and their families; Rick (Sharon) Kucher and daughters Amanda, Sherry and Melissa and their families; and Suzi (Tom) Hare and son Michael, and daughters Nicole and Amber and their families.  She also leaves to mourn her sister Elaine Gibson and family and her close friend Olga Duncan and many more friends she met during her lifespan.  She is survived by 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was pre-deceased by her parents Russell and Willamine Hutton, husband Frank Roy Kucher on Dec 6, 2014 and grandson Craig Kucher on June 18, 2012.

Thank-you to Dr. Tariq, staff at Neepawa Hospital and Home Care Staff who aided in her care.

In lieu of flowers, donations towards the Kidney Foundation and MS Society would be greatly appreciated.

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