Karen “Ralph” Hayek, the heartbeat of the farm, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at the family farm on Nov. 17, 2025, at the age of 78.
Karen was born Sept. 10, 1947, in Friend, to Frank and Sylvia (Zoubek) Kotas. She was raised on a farm northeast of Western, attending country school before graduating from Western High School, Class of 1965. After high school, Karen briefly worked at the Campbell’s soup factory in Tecumseh, and then Formfit in Crete.
Karen married Myron Hayek on March 8, 1969. Myron and Karen moved to the family farm west of Wilber in 1971, where they resided until retiring in 2002. Karen farmed by Myron’s side for 50 years, making their living raising corn, beans, milo, wheat, cattle, hogs, poultry, a huge garden, and three kids, Wendy, Doug and Daryl.
Karen enjoyed being with family and friends and having a good ol’ time. She enjoyed evening cruises, gardening, cooking and baking, and doing anything on the farm. She especially enjoyed harvest time and hauling grain with her semi, #9. Cooking for her family put her in her element, and she was a tremendous cook with her specialty being the traditional Czech meal of duck, dumplings, and kraut.
She was an active member of Saline Center Hall and was always present for baking kolaches and socializing with the gals.
Karen is survived by her daughter, Wendy Keller; sons, Doug (Hillary) Hayek and Daryl (Roxy) Hayek; grandchildren, Seth (Jordan) Keller, Zack (Meredith Hoffman) Keller, Logan (Russell Korinek) Hayek, Rylee (Sam) Zeleny, Kaylee (Dan) Slepicka, Collin (Tara Schroeder) Hayek, and Cooper Hayek; great-grandchildren, Lucy Keller, Roayn Clausen-Zeleny and Rextin Zeleny, Dax and Josie Slepicka; brother, Melvin Kotas; sisters-in-law, Lois Kotas and Carol Kotas; brother-in-law, Bob Kasl; and many nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Myron; parents, Frank and Sylvia Kotas; parents-in-law, Lumir and Evelyn Hayek; son-in-law, Darin Keller; brothers, Gerald and Roger Kotas; sisters-in-law, Barb Kotas and Marva Kasl; nephews, Bobby and Brad Kasl; and niece, Jean Essman.
A memorial service will be Sunday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m. at the Saline Center Auditorium in Western. No visitation will be held as it was Karen's wishes to be cremated. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Inurnment of Ashes will be held at a later date in the North Fork Cemetery in rural Western.
Arrangements by Farmer & Son Funeral Home.
