Living

Notes:

Alvin taught math for one year, after which he and Beth moved Bradshaw, Nebraska. He worked in Grand Island for Bonsall Pool Company for 27 years thereafter, later moving to York, Nebraska where he bought into York Oliver Sales. (Milligan, 278).

Alvin L. Gordan, age 77 of Bradshaw, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 at York. Alvin was born on a farm northeast of Bradshaw on October 22, 1926 to Alvin C. and Etta H. (Edmunds) Gordan.

He attended Bradshaw High School and graduated in 1944. He then attended the University of Nebraska for one semester before being drafted into the US Navy and served two years during WWII. Following his discharge he attended Nebraska Wesleyan where he completed his college degree.

Alvin married Irma Elizabeth Kotas on June 5, 1949 at Milligan, Neb. Al taught school for a year at Meadow Grove and then joined Bonsall Pool Co. in Grand Island. Then in 1977 he joined his brother Bill in York Oliver Sales until his retirement in 1995.

Al was a member of the Bradshaw United Methodist Church, Bradshaw Volunteer Fireman (over 27 years) and had been a member of the Bradshaw Village Board. He was also very active in the Hampton Masonic Lodge #245, Soloman Chapter #33 Royal Arch Masons, Naomi Chapter #26 in Geneva and Jappa Commandry #17 Knights Templar of York. He had been the head of all these Masonic groups and received the Knight York Cross of Honor in 1976. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Shrine and the York County Historical Assn. Alvin kept the records and was active in the Bradshaw Alumni Assn. and the Plainfield Cemetery Board.

Alvin is survived by his wife, Beth of Bradshaw; two daughters, Joyce (Jim) Campbell of Lincoln and Patricia (David) Collister of Dwight; son, James Gordan of Bradshaw; grandchildren, Mark and Nicole Bergen, Liz Bogen, Melanie and her husband Dan Collister-Foulk, Brian and Cody Campbell, John, Jayme and MaKenzie Gordan; great-grandchildren Anya and Sean Bogen; sister-in-law Elisa Gordan and her son (nephew) William B. Gordan of Jacksonville, Fla.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Jean and Lee Holtmeier of Grand Island and Mary Ann and Roger Rut of Lincoln and many other nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bradshaw United Methodist Church with the Rev. Brian Kottas officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the Plainfield Cemetery west of Bradshaw. Visitation will begin on Friday at noon. Memorials may be directed to the Bradshaw First United Methodist Church or to the Bradshaw Fire Department.

Alvin married Irma Elizabeth "Beth" Kotas on 5 Jun 1949 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Irma (daughter of William H. Kotas and Delcia Irma Essex) was born on 1 Sep 1929 in Monroe, Platte County, Nebraska; died on 21 Apr 2018 in Seward, Seward County, Nebraska; was buried in Plainfield Cemetery, Bradshaw, York County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Beth attended Milligan High School, graduating in 1946, at which time she went to Nebraska Wesleyan University for one year. She then taught in Fillmore County schools. (Milligan, 278).

Obituary
York News-Times, April 24, 2018
(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)


Irma "Beth" Gordan, age 88, of Seward, formerly of Bradshaw, died Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Seward.

She was born Irma Elizabeth Kotas at home in Monroe, on Sept.1, 1929, the oldest of William H. and Irma (Essex) Kotas. She graduated from Milligan High School in 1946 and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University for one year, earning her teaching certificate. She taught in Fillmore County Rural Schools District #44 and #95 for two years. She married Alvin L. Gordan on June 5, 1949, at the Milligan Methodist Church. Beth and Alvin lived in Meadow Grove where Alvin taught for one year. They then moved to Bradshaw to make their permanent home. They traveled to South Dakota for their honeymoon, and also to Texas, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and various states in between (traveling by car), as well as to Cancun, Mexico City, and several times to Hawaii. She loved to preserve garden produce that Alvin grew, crochet, sew clothes for her family, read books, and complete her family's history. She was a 60 year member of the Bradshaw United Methodist Church, and was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star (5 different Nebraska Chapters), lastly in Utica #199 for over 60 years.

Beth is survived by their children, Joyce Bogen Campbell of Bradshaw, Trish (Dave) Collister of Dwight and Jim Gordan of Bradshaw. Grandchildren include, Mark (Nichole) Bogen of Bennett, Liz (James) Soukup of Lincoln, Brian Campbell (Amy Richardson) of Lincoln, Cody Campbell of Bradshaw, Melanie (Dan) Collister-Foulk of Seward, Jayme (Micah) Pomplun of Broken Bow and Kenzie Gordan of Norfolk. Great-grandchildren, Anya and Sean Bogan, Kaylyn and Jessa Soukup, Alivia Campbell, Xander and Isabel Foulk, Khloe, Kinlee and Kenna Pomplun.

She is also survived by her sisters, Jeanie Holtmeier and Mary Ann Rut; sister-in-law, Elisa Gordan along with several nieces and nephews.

Alvin died in 2004, and she continued to live at home alone until May of 2016 when she moved into an apartment at Brookdale Senior Living in Seward to be closer to her daughter, Trish.

Beth is preceded in death by her grandparents; parents; husband; grandson, John Gordan; great-grandson, Evan Soukup; brothers-in-law, Bill Gordan, Lee Holtmeier and Roger Rut.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Bradshaw United Methodist Church in Bradshaw with the Reverend Karla Sheffy officiating. Interment will follow at the Plainfield Cemetery, west of Bradshaw. Visitation will be from 1 '96 8 p.m. Friday, April 27, with her family greeting friends from 6:30 '96 8 p.m. at the mortuary in York. Memorials are directed to family for later designation.

Online condolences may be directed to his family at www.metzmortuary.com Metz Mortuary, York is handling arrangements.

Notes:

He received a degree in education from Peru State Teachers College in 1918. He also attended the University of Nebraska. He taught for 14 years, and was later superintendent of schools at Ohiowa, Milligan, Monroe and Prague. In 1937, he purchased the PLACEK hardware store in Milligan. William served as Village Clerk for 18 years, ans was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Methodist Church, school board and fire department. (Milligan, p 361).

William married Delcia Irma Essex on 22 Jun 1926. Delcia was born on 26 Jan 1903 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma; died on 18 Sep 1993 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Omar ESSIX (sic) and Lizzie ELLINGER. She enjoyed reading, writing letters, quilting and fancy work. Irma was a member of the Milligan Methodist Church, Ladies Aid Society, Womans Club and Senior Society (Milligan, p 360).

Notes:

Married:
Married at the Home of the Brides' parents.

Notes:

Anton attended rural school district #44 which was a dug out in the northwest corner of his father's homestead. Anton was making his home, as a young lad, in a dug out on the SE 1/4 of Section 3 when the blizzard of 1888 struck. Several of the big boys were sent to Anton's farmstead to weather out the storm. Anton valued education, wanting his sons to become professors. He sent them to town school after they completed elementary school. (Milligan, p 347).

Anton married Antonie Volmut on 31 Jan 1893 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Antonie (daughter of Joseph Volmut and Anna Vanis) was born on 6 Jul 1870 in Pisek, Bohemia; died on 16 Apr 1922 in Glengary Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Joseph and Anna VOLMUT, and older sister to Barbara. Her parents lived with she and Anton as of 1900, and his father continued to live with them after his wife died (Milligan, p 347). Grandson John H. "was a constant companion of his grandfather, Joseph VOLMUT, who made his home with the Kotas family." (Milligan, p 358).

She was said to be born in Zivoticich, Pisek, Blatna, Bohemia.

Notes:

Married:
They were married at St. Wencesclaus Catholic Church by Father James BARTIK, with John STEINACHER and Joseph SUDA as witnesses. They made their home with Anton's parents, moving into their new home in Section 3 on April 10, 1893. As of 1987, part of the home was still standing. Besides the land gifted to Anton by his parents, he purchased additional land in the Milligan area from his brothers and from the KUSKA family. He also owned land in Montana, where his brother W.J. lived. (Milligan, p 347).