Losing someone is heavy. There is no other way to put it. When that weight hits, the first thing many of us do is look for a way to honor the person we lost. In Seward, Nebraska, and the surrounding areas like Dwight, that search almost always leads to one place. People start typing zabka funeral home obituaries into their phones, looking for a digital space that mirrors the physical comfort of a small-town service.
Honestly, an obituary isn't just a notice of death. It is a final story. It’s the "dash" between the birth date and the death date. In a community like Seward, where the Zabka family—and now the Perdue family—have been fixtures for decades, these records are the heartbeat of local history.
The Evolution of Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home
You might still call it "Zabka," and that makes sense. Greg and Dixie Zabka bought the place back in 1998 from the Wood brothers. But the history of this building at 410 Jackson Avenue actually stretches back 150 years. It started with John Kribbeler in 1874. Think about that. This business has survived the introduction of the lightbulb, two World Wars, and the shift from horse-drawn hearses to digital live-streams.
In 2018, the torch passed to Brad and Jill Perdue. They kept the Zabka name, becoming Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home, because they knew the name meant something to the folks in Seward County. It represents a specific kind of trust. When you look for zabka funeral home obituaries, you aren't just looking for a date of service. You’re looking for a name you know, written by people who likely knew your grandfather or sat next to you at a Rotary meeting.
Where to Actually Find the Latest Listings
If you're looking for a recent passing, don't just wander around the internet. There are three main "watering holes" where these stories live.
- The Official Website: The most direct route is zabkafuneralhome.com. It’s clean, it’s updated by the staff themselves, and it’s usually where the most accurate service times are posted first.
- Legacy.com: Because they partner with local newspapers, Legacy often hosts a mirrored version of the obituaries. This is great if you want to leave a digital "candle" or a note in the guestbook.
- The Seward County Independent: If it happened in Seward, it's in the Independent. Many people still prefer the physical feel of the newspaper, but their online obituary section is robust.
Why the Dwight Branch Matters
A lot of people forget that in 2017, the business expanded to Dwight, Nebraska. Before that, residents in the northern part of the county had to travel quite a bit for arrangements. The Dwight facility was a big deal—a newly constructed building designed specifically to give those families a local space.
When you search for zabka funeral home obituaries, you’ll often see names from Dwight, Valparaiso, and Brainard mixed in. It’s a regional hub. It’s not just a Seward thing.
What the Costs Look Like (The Elephant in the Room)
Nobody likes talking about money when they’re grieving, but transparency helps. Based on recent data, the basic services of the director and staff at Zabka-Perdue sit around $2,125. If you’re looking at a full traditional funeral, you’re adding on things like embalming (about $1,025) and the use of the facilities for the ceremony (roughly $380).
Cremation is becoming way more common. Greg Zabka noted in a recent interview that while the area used to be strictly traditional, cremation now accounts for a significant portion of their services. A direct cremation there usually starts around $2,700.
The Art of Writing a Seward Obituary
If you’re the one tasked with writing, take a breath. You don't have to be a poet. The best zabka funeral home obituaries are the ones that sound like the person.
Did they love the Huskers? Put it in there. Were they known for a specific pie recipe or a grumpy dog? Mention it.
The staff at Zabka-Perdue are famously good at helping with this. Brad and Greg are known for being "listeners." They aren't just salesmen; they’re curators of a life story. They've seen the industry change from 98% male directors to a field now dominated by women (about 70% of new mortuary students). They’ve seen "saddles" and motorcycles brought into the funeral home to personalize a service.
Basically, the "standard" funeral is a thing of the past.
Why You Should Search Older Obituaries
Sometimes, the search for zabka funeral home obituaries isn't about a recent loss. It’s about genealogy. Because they’ve been around so long, their records are a goldmine for family researchers. If you’re trying to find where a great-aunt was buried or what her maiden name was, the archives at the funeral home or the Seward library are your best bets.
Seward is a "15-minute town" in the best way. Everyone is connected. An obituary here often reads like a "Who’s Who" of the county, listing survivors that include half the people you saw at the grocery store last Tuesday.
Actionable Steps for Families
If you are currently navigating a loss or pre-planning, here is what you should do right now:
- Check the official site first: Go to zabkafuneralhome.com to see the most current service details. Times change, especially with Nebraska weather.
- Sign up for alerts: Most of these digital obituary platforms have a "notify me" feature. It’s a good way to stay informed without having to check the paper every morning.
- Gather the "Little Details": If you’re writing an obit, don't worry about the dates yet—the funeral home has those. Focus on the stories. What did they smell like? What was their favorite saying? That’s what people remember.
- Consider Pre-Planning: It sounds morbid, but it’s actually a gift to your kids. You can lock in current prices and make sure your "final story" is told exactly how you want it.
The reality is that zabka funeral home obituaries serve as the final chapter for the people who built Seward. Whether it’s a notice for a lifelong farmer or a local teacher, these records ensure that even when someone is gone, they aren't forgotten by the community they called home.
