Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elmer Soukup Funeral Held

Elmer Louis Soukup, son of Harry and Mary (Stejskal) Soukup, was born May 1, 1921, near Milligan. He passed away December 15,1982, in Lincoln.

He grew up with his parents on the farm and attended school at Milligan after which he took up the auto mechanic trade at Bors Ford Motor Company learning the trade by apprenticeship.

In August 1942 he enlisted inthe U.S. Army Ordinance Department. After training in the U.S. and Canada he was sent overseas to the European Theatre of Operations being involved in the D-Day operations June 6, 1944. He was discharged October 19, 1945, serving a total of three years and two months.

Elmer was a member of Amercan Legion H.S.S.K. Post 240 at Milligan, The Geneva V.F.W. post and Svatopluk Z.C.B.J. Lodge76 at Milligan.

After returning from military service he went back to his auto mechanic trade with his former employer Bors-Bulin Ford Motor Company in Milligan.

On September 5, 1946, he was united in marriage to Jeanette (Grote) Messinger. To this union were born two children, Mary Kaye and John.

In 1955 he secured employment at O'Shea Rogers Ford Motor Company after which he took over the operation of his own service station. For the past 23 years he was employed by the F.D. Wilson Auto Parts Company. He enjoyed his work and took pride in an occasional tinker on some of his client's cars.

Elmer was an avid gardener and greatly enjoyed the company of his neighbors who had much respect for him.

He also took great pride in his many hobbies and enjoyed listening to Czech music.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harry Soukup.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Jeanette, daughter and son-in-law, Mary Kaye and Mike McDonald; son and daughter-in-law, John and Mary Soukup; nine grandchildren; mother, Mary Soukup; two brothers, Arnold H. and Ray; and one sister, Rubye Prokop.

CARD OF THANKS We wish to express our sincere thanks to everyone who offered kind assistance and sympathy at the time of the death of Elmer Soukup. THE SOUKUP FAMILY

Elmer married Jeanette Grote on 5 Sep 1946. Jeanette was born on 17 Nov 1920 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 3 Dec 1995 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jeanette R. Soukup was born Nov 13, 1920, to Frank and Katie Grote at Geneva. She passed away Dec 3, 1995, at Lincoln General Hospital at the age of 75 years. She had two children.

Jeanette graduated from Geneva High School in 1937. She married John Wesley Messigner April 15, 1939, at St. Joseph's Church in Geneva. A land mine in World War II took Wes's life.

In September of 1946, Jeanette married Elmer Soukup, to which union were born Mary Kaye and John. The family lived in Milligan until 1956, when they moved to Lincoln.

Jeanette was employed at Lincoln General Hospital from 1960 though 1987.

After her retirement, Jeanette enjoyed many hours at the Antelope Senior Center near her home in Lincoln.

She was a Gold Star Sister of the American Legion Auxiliary Post Number 240 of Milligan.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, in December of 1982.

She is survived by one son, John, of Lincoln; daughter Mary Kay McDonald, Omaha; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Lincoln with Father Joseph J. Nemec officiating and Father Charles Gergen of York assisting.

Interment was at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials are directed to Antelope Senior Center in Lincoln.

Thanks mom. You were a mother proud and independent. You were strong and gentle, loving and kind. You are missed by your children and grandchildren. We love you, Mom.

(Undated copy of clipping, newspaper name not indicated)

Notes:

Harry Soukup

Jaroslav Harry Soukup, son of Frank and Anna (Beznoska) Soukup, was born October 18, 1889 at Prague, Nebraska.

He passed away at Warren Memorial hospital at Friend, Nebraska, at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 22 days. He was baptized in the Catholic church at Prague on November 17, 1889.

As a small child the family moved to Milligan, where they lived for a time. At the age of 10 the family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma to homestead. As a youngster, Harry worked in the cotton fields with the family. He spoke of the times he had there of the Indian neighbors that were some of his best friends.

At the age of 21 he decided to move back to Nebraska. He and a friend, Tom Hardwick, managed to get together a horse, a mule and a wagon which they used for transportation to get them back to his home state. Starting out from Lawton, the trip took them over two weeks to travel some 450 miles.

Upon arrival he worked as a farm hand for his brother, Joe. Then in the fall of 1915 he engaged in farming for himself.

On December 21, 1915, he united in marriage to Mary E. Stejskal at Geneva.

He was active in local organizations in his younger years serving on the District 67 School Board, Glengary township road overseer, Farmers Co-op Board of Directors, also serving capacities in the Z.C.B.J. and the Milligan Auditorium. He was a long-time member of Svatopluk Czech Lodge No. 76.

In 1956 he retired and moved to Milligan. He enjoyed his family and they in turn enjoyed him. December 21, 1975, he was deeply touched by having the family help him and his wife observe their 60th wedding anniversary in their new home in Wilber.

Surviving are his wife, Mary; sons, Arnold and wife, Maryanne, of Milligan, Elmer and wife, Jeanette, Ray and wife Betty, of Lincoln; and daughter, Mrs. Edward (Ruby) Prokop and husband, Edward, of Wilber; one sister, Lillie Eret, of Prague, Oklahoma; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Edward, Frank R., Joseph M., Louis and William; and sisters, Mary Kassik, Tessie Strong, and Anna Hooker; and one granddaughter, Nancy Soukup.

Services were held Wednesday, February 11, 1976, at 2 pm at Farmer and Son Funeral Home--Kotas Chapel in Milligan.

Rev. Homer Clements was the officiating clergyman. Mrs. Albert Naimon was the organist with selections "In the Garden" and "Kazdy Nese Svij Kriz" by Mrs. Leslie Skrivanek and Mrs. Joseph Capek.

The pallbearers were grandsons, John Soukup, Richard Prokop, Tim Hester, Michael McDonald and Adolph Vacek. Interment was in the Bohemian National cemetery at Milligan.

CARD OF THANKS

We gratefully acknowledge the help give us, the food brought in, the messages of sympathy, the floral offerings and the memorials at the time or our bereavement. Your kindness is deeply appreciated. THE FAMILY OF HARRY SOUKUP

Jaroslav married Mary Ella Stejskal on 21 Dec 1915 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Mary (daughter of Frank Stejskal and Anna Stastny) was born on 21 May 1894 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 20 Dec 1988 in Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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.

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."