Mary Ella Stejskal

Notes:

The Nebraska Signal

Milligan

Mary Ella Stejskal Soukup, daughter of Frank and Anna (Stastny) Stejskal, was born on a farm west of Wilber, on May 21, 1894, and passed away at the Wilber Nursing Home on December 20, 1988, at the age of 94 years, 7 months.

When she was a child, the family moved to a farm near Tobias and later to the Ohiowa area where she attended Golden Rod School District 42.

Upon completion of her school, she took a course in Terry dressmaking and sewing at Milligan, graduating as a fine seamstress in September of 1911. She followed this occupation along with housekeeping for others.

As a pastime she enjoyed Czech music and also liked to play the organ, piano and button accordian. On her 90th birthday she played a few selections on the piano.

On December 21, 1915, she was united in marriage to Harry Soukup at Geneva by Judge Fulton. They made their home on the farm west of Milligan. Their family grew to include four children, Arnold, Elmer, Roy and Rubye, as well as a nephew, Louis Most, who came to join the family in 1927.

Mary and Harry were active in the ZCJB Lodge Svatopluk 76. For many years she worked at the Milligan auditorium during the popular dance period in the 1930's and 1940's.

She prided herself for being a member of the American Legion Auxillary, having had all three sons in the service.

In 1956 she and her husband retired from the farm and moved to Milligan. On December 21, 1965, they had the pleasure of celebrating their golden wedding anniversay.

In 1974 they moved to Wilber to be near their daughter Rubye. On December 21, 1975, they celebrated 60 years of wedded life.

On August 11, 1981, she entered the Wilber Nursing Home where she spent many hours with one of her favorite pastimes of crocheting.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harry, son, Elmer; daughter in law Mary Anne, granddaughter, nancy, brothers Adolph, Anton, Frank J, and Louis; sister, Antonie; and a brother and sister in infancy.

She is survived by sons, Arnold H and Ray and wife Betty Soukup, daughter, Rubye and husband Ed Prokop; one sister, Anna Chaney; six grandchildren, 11 great-great granchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted from Farmer-Kotas Funeral Chapel on December 23, with the Rev. Michael McDonald officiating.

Amy Sluka accompanied Blanche Capek and Dorothy Skrivanek, who sang "God be with You Til We Meet Again" and "Kardy Nese Svuj Kriz" in Czech.

Pallbearers were John Soukup, Rob Prokop, Jay Jorgens, Tim Hester, Arnold Capek and Jim J. Kotas.

Interment was in the Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan.

Mary married Jaroslav "Harry" Soukup on 21 Dec 1915 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Jaroslav (son of Frantisek "Frank" M. Soukup and Anna Beznoska) was born on 18 Oct 1889 in Prague, Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 9 Feb 1976 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
"Mary Stejskal and Harry first met at a trap-shoot on the Svec property west of Milligan. Trap shoots were considered one of the great social events of the day. Miss Stejskal and Mr. Soukup were married at Geneva December 21, 1915, by Judge Fulton. After their marriage they settled on the Andrew Lynn farm four and one half miles west of Milligan."

1. Arnold Harry "Arnie" Soukup was born on 27 Mar 1919 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 22 Jun 1998 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
2. Elmer Louis Soukup was born on 1 May 1921 in Ohiowa, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 15 Dec 1988 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
3. Raymond Earl Soukup was born on 19 Dec 1926 in Ohiowa, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 18 Jun 2010 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; was buried in Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
4. Rubye Ann Soukup was born on 17 Sep 1929 in Ohiowa, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 5 Jun 2012 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

1880 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Brush Creek
Enumerated 1 Day of June 1900
Page 15, SD 1 ED 222 Stamped 119
132-140
Stajskal, Frank W M 30 Farmer Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia
Stajskal, Anna W F 26 W Housekeeping Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia
Stajskal, Adolph W M 5 Son Neb Bohemia Bohemia
Stajskal, Tony W F 1 Dtr Neb Bohemia Bohemia

1900 Census
Nebraska, Fillmore County, Belle Prarie Twp
Enumerated 8 and 9 June 1900
SD 4 ED 17 Sheet 4A
61-61
Stejskal, Frank Hd W M Nov 1851 68 48 M 27 Bohemia Bohemi
a Bohemia 1873 27 Na Farmer
Stejskal, Annie Wf W F May 1854 46 M 27 7/7 Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1873 27
Stejskal, Frank Son W M Apr 1882 18 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia Farm Laborer
Stejskal, Anton Son W M Sept 1884 15 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia Farm Laborer
Stejskal, Annie Dtr W F Feb 1887 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia At School
Stejskal, Louis Son W M Apr 1890 10 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia At School
Stejskal, Mary Dtr W F May 1894 6 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia

Frank married Anna Stastny about 1871 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Anna was born on 13 Jun 1854 in Tabor, Bohemia; died on 23 Feb 1933 in Nebraska; was buried in Wilber Czech Cemetery (Bohemian-Slavonian Cemetery), Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]