Janis Marie (Hupka) Sobotta was born to Barney and Julia (Kerner) Hupka on March 2, 1932 at St. Mary, Nebraska.  She graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1949.  

She was united in marriage to Norman R. Sobotta at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Mary, Nebraska. To this union three children were born, Debra, Timothy and Tammie.   She and Norman were later divorced.  Norman passed away Nov. 28, 2003.  

Janis was born and raised her entire life in the Catholic faith.   She was a longtime owner of the Owl Café and Hilltop Café in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  Janis enjoyed cooking and dancing polkas and worked very hard serving her customers and friends at both establishments.  In the mid 90’s she sold the Hilltop Café and moved to Lincoln to be closer to her children.  

She passed away on February 16, 2016 at the Holmes Lake Manor in Lincoln at the age of 83 years. 

Janis is survived by her daughters, Debra Olson of Lincoln and Tammie Kamerzell and husband Scott of Ceresco, granddaughters, Jennifer and Christine Olson, brother, Clarence Hupka and wife Helen of Cook, sisters-in-law, Geraldine Hupka of St. Mary, Dorothy Bryan of Tecumseh and Alice Sobotta of Lincoln and nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, Barney and Julia, son, Tim Sobotta (March 1, 2014), grandson, Mathew Ryan Olson, brother, Joseph Hupka, nephew, Robert “Bobby” Hupka, niece, Joyce Howard and ex-husband, Norman “Tim” Sobotta.

Mass of Christian Burial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 20, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Mary, Nebraska with Father Craig Clinch officiating.  Visitation will be held at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Friday, February 19, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m.    Memorials may go to the family’s choice.   Interment will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, St. Mary, Nebraska. Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.