Kate Kuštreba, Dubovac's Oldest Resident, Passes Away
At 102, the woman whose name was synonymous with the first school days of countless Karlovac residents has left us.
At 102, the woman whose name was synonymous with the first school days of countless Karlovac residents has left us.
Kate Kuštreba, a longtime educator and the oldest resident of Dubovac, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the age of 102, as reported by Kaportal. For many generations of Dubovac residents, she embodied the first steps in education, teaching them not only letters and numbers but also fundamental life values.
Born on March 16, 1925, in Lađevac near Slunj, she was the second child of Franjo Tutek (1883) and Lucija Tutek, née Salopek (1892). She completed her primary education in her hometown and then, in 1944, amid wartime events, graduated from the Teacher Training School in Karlovac.
She began her professional career at Sjeničak Primary School, where she worked as a civil servant for a year. After that, she briefly taught in Draganić before being transferred to Dubovac Primary School. It was this school that became the center of her working life-she remained there until her retirement in 1982. Over nearly four decades at the chalkboard, she educated hundreds of students, and her impact on their lives is still spoken of with immense respect today.
Retirement did not mean withdrawing from social life. Kate Kuštreba was a member of the First Croatian Singing Society Zora until 2013 and also sang in the Karlovac retirees' choir. It was only after moving to the 'Sveti Antun' Home for the Elderly in Karlovac that her dynamic pace of life gradually slowed.
After World War II, she married Živko Kuštreba, with whom she raised three children-Sabina, Živko, and Darko. Her family tree continued to grow: she leaves behind five grandchildren (Sanda, Irena, Tomica, Igor, and Ivan) and nine great-grandchildren. However, Kate Kuštreba's family circle was always much broader than just her immediate kin. Together with her husband, she opened her home to numerous relatives and young people who came to Karlovac for education, providing them with shelter and security. With her brother Franjo, she built a family house in Dubovac, which for years was a hub of gatherings and mutual support.
About a year ago, surrounded by family, friends, and many guests, she celebrated her 100th birthday. That occasion was a celebration of a life filled with work, love, and selfless giving. The final farewell to Kate Kuštreba will take place on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 12:15 PM at the Dubovac Catholic Cemetery.
