IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL (Memorandum Web Opinion) DEGES V. DEGES NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E). JASON K. DEGES, APPELLANT, V. EDYTA M. DEGES, APPELLEE. Filed June 13, 2023. No. A-22-686. Appeal from the District Court for Cass County: MICHAEL A. SMITH, Judge. Affirmed. Matthew Stuart Higgins and Andrew T. Braun, of Higgins Law, for appellant. Julie E. Bear, of Reinsch, Slattery, Bear, Minahan & Prickett, P.C., L.L.O., for appellee. PIRTLE, Chief Judge, and MOORE and ARTERBURN, Judges. ARTERBURN, Judge. INTRODUCTION Jason K. Deges appeals from the decree of dissolution entered in the district court for Cass County, which dissolved his marriage to Edyta M. Deges. On appeal, Jason asserts the district court abused its discretion in awarding Edyta alimony and attorney fees. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the decision of the district court. BACKGROUND Edyta, a native of Poland, and Jason, a member of the U.S. Air Force, met in Colorado in 2005 while Edyta was visiting a friend. Edyta had just completed her second year at a university in Poland. After meeting, Edyta and Jason began a romantic relationship and Edyta did not return to Poland. They married in December 2005 and shortly thereafter moved to Nebraska due to Jason’s reassignment to Offutt Air Force Base. In the beginning of the relationship, Edyta could -1- not find work because she was not fluent in English. As she gained proficiency, she was able to work waitressing jobs at various restaurants earning minimum wage plus tips. In 2010, Edyta stopped working shortly before their first child was born. Edyta stayed home to take care of their daughter for a period of two years. During that time, she took online classes which ultimately led to the completion of an associate degree in healthcare information management in 2013. The degree was funded in part through Jason’s GI Bill benefits. When Edyta reentered the workforce, she began working for Nebraska Medicine as an insurance verification specialist earning roughly $14 per hour. After their son was born in 2014, Edyta changed employment to work as a medical biller for Comper Care, a home health care provider, earning roughly $17 per hour. As opposed to her prior jobs which were located in the Omaha metropolitan area, the job at Comper Care was in Plattsmouth, where the family lived. This made it easier for her to provide care for the children. Jason’s work in the Air Force required him to be away from home for one week every three weeks. While Jason was traveling, Edyta was solely responsible for the care of the household and the children. Edyta testified that she remained the primary caregiver for the children even when Jason was home. She testified that she was primarily responsible for cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and providing personal care for the children. Jason stated that he equally …
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