Living

Notes:

Robert was born in the Charvat farm a mile and a half west of Milligan. He attended Milligan Public School and graduated with the class of 1959, at which time he went to work with the Farmers Co-op. On January 13, 1964, he went into active duty with the army and spent time in Germany. He was discharged on January 14, 1966, and returned to the Farmers Co-op. He is now assistant manager. (Milligan, p 331).


A Funeral Service for Robert will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at the Milligan Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Murry Johnston and Pastor Mark Schutt presiding.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Military Graveside Services will be conducted at the Bohemian National Cemetery following the funeral service.

Memorials are to be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.

Robert Ray Kassik of Milligan passed away unexpectedly at Bryan East Hospital October 19, 2019 at the age of 78. He was born October 2, 1941 to Frank W. Sr. and Emma A. (Suda) Kassik on the Charvat farm a mile and a half west of Milligan.

Robert attended Milligan Public School and graduated in 1959. He began work for Farmers Cooperative in Milligan on June 1, 1960. On January 13, 1964 he went into active duty with the army and spent time testing artillery in Germany. He was discharged January 14, 1966, returning to his job at Farmers Cooperative where he continued to serve the patrons. He began his career there in the grain and agronomy departments, driving the propane truck and then moving indoors as assistant manager and then eventually branch manager at Milligan. He was with Farmers Cooperative for 48 years until his retirement in September 2008.

He married Marjorie Halama on March 7, 1975 at the Milligan United Methodist Church. To this union, two daughters were born: Karie Lynn and Stacey Jo.

He lived his entire life in Milligan serving the community in many ways. He was on the Milligan School Board from 1983 to 1998 and served as secretary. Robert was a lifetime member of the H.S.S.K. American Legion Post 240 in Milligan. In November 2018 he was honored with receiving a Quilt of Valor.

He was active over the years pitching for the Milligan men's softball team. He also enjoyed golfing but especially loved his bowling. Bob and Marge bowled with others on mixed leagues and he looked forward to bowling on Wednesday nights with the guys on the Kassik Milling bowling team. On December 29, 2000 he bowled a perfect 300 game at Friendly Lanes in Friend, believed to be the first in the alley's history. He also enjoyed playing poker especially at the annual Suda Christmas gathering the first Sunday in December. He was nicknamed "Vejce" (the Czech word for eggs) by his friends because following a night out with the guys he always told everyone to go to the Hilltop Caf? for "vejce." He enjoyed spending his spare time doing jigsaw puzzles and playing computer games.

Bob and Marge enjoyed attending all of Ethan's school and church activities, basketball games, baseball games and 4-H events. Ethan and Grandpa were close referring to each other as "best buddy" while Ethan's classmates affectionately referred to Bob as "Grandpa Fedora." Bob and Marge also enjoyed babysitting and being able to spend much quality time with Carter and Alice. He was very proud of his three grandchildren.

Everyone has always expressed how positive he was, never seeing him without a smile on his face and a friendly greeting or visit for all.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents Frank W. Sr. and Emma A. (Suda) Kassik, sister and brother-in-law Eleanor and Louis Matthies; brothers Donald Kassik and Frank W. Kassik Jr.; father-in-law and mother-in-law Joseph and Evelyn Halama; infant niece Joy Matthies.

Survivors include: his wife of 44 years, Marjorie of Milligan; daughter Karie Jobman of Beatrice; daughter and son-in-law Stacey and Jim Muff of Crete; grandsons Ethanael Jobman and Carter Muff; granddaughter Alice Muff; sister-in-laws Nori Kassik of Lawton, OK; sister-in-law Margaret Kassik of Milligan; cousin Richard (Judy) Kassik of Milligan; nieces Mary Jo Fountain of Lawton, OK, Kathy (Tom) Gillmore of Lincoln, Karen (Dean) Filipi of Milligan, Karla Kassik of Lincoln, Lorie Ann (Scott) Pinkham of Minden; nephews Paul (Jeannie) Kassik of Shickley, Perry (Judy) Kassik of Friend, Louis Matthies of Geneva, Robert (Janet) Matthies of Hastings; and by many cousins and friends.

(Obituary shared by Dennis Belohlavy)

Robert married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Frank married Emma Alice Suda. Emma (daughter of Joseph Suda and Francis "Fannie" Fujan) was born on 11 Dec 1907 in Nebraska; died on 26 Dec 1998 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SSN 506-48-4824

Kassik -- Emma A., 91, Milligan, widow of Frank W. Sr., died Saturday (12/26/ 98) in Geneva. Survivors: sons, daughtersin-law, Donald F. and Norry, Lawton, Okla., Frank W. Jr. and Margaret, Robert R. and Marjorie, all of Milligan; daughter, Eleanor E. Matthies, Milligan; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren; step great-greatgrandson.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Milligan Auditorium, Milligan. Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan. Visitation: beginning 1 p.m. today, Farmer and Son Funeral Home, Kotas Chapel, Milligan.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, Lincoln Journal Star Archives)

Notes:

Joseph attended the Milligan Public School, but did not graduate. He had to drop out to help support his family. He and his older brother John were living in the household of Fred BIBA at the time of the 1930 census, along with five or six other Czech laborers. Joe was drafted on March 24, 1942, and took his basic training at Camp Barkley, Texas. He was part of the Normandy invasion, landing on Utah Beach on D-Day, at which time he was wounded. He was hospitilized in England for many months afterwords. The medics were unable to assist him until the next day. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Infantry Combat Badge, ETO Ribbon with two bronze stars, Victory Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon, Overseas Bar, three year service bar, and Bronze Arrowhead. After the war, Joseph worked in road construction, which took he and his family all over Nebraska and parts of Kansas. They spent the winters in Milligan with Evelyn's mother, Lillian FRYCEK. (Milligan, p 281).

Joseph married Evelyn Marie Frycek on 10 Dec 1946. Evelyn (daughter of Albert R. Frycek and Lillian Kotas) was born on 28 Jan 1916 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 27 Mar 1976 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Evelyn was blessed with a lovely soprano voice and sang at many Memorial Day programs at Milligan and with the Steinacher Dance Band. Prior to her marriage, she helped her widowed mother run the Checker Cafe. After they rented out the building, she went to work for the Florence Home for the Aged. During the war, she worked at the Hasting Naval Base. (Milligan, p 281).

Notes:

Married:
They had one daughter, Marjorie Ann. (Milligan, 273).

Frank married Agnes Vohnout on 31 Oct 1892 in Fillmore County, Nebraska. Agnes (daughter of George (Jiri) Vohnout and Barbara ???) was born on 21 Jan 1872 in Bohemia; died on 13 Aug 1912 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Francis "Fannie" Fujan on 11 Oct 1898. Francis (daughter of Frantisek Fujan and Marie Koziskova) was born on 29 Sep 1870 in Koryta, Plzen-Sever, Plzensk? kraj, Bohemia; died on 25 Aug 1950; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The son of John and Barbara HALAMA. He sailed from Bremen on the German ship, Prinz Frederich Wilhelm, land in the United States on April 12, 1910. He came to the farm of John HROMADKA where he worked as a farm hand near Milligan. In 1912, he made arrangements to send for his family: wife, Antonie and her mother, Josefa HLAVSA, and his sons, James, Mike and John. The left Bremen on the German ship Breslav and landed in Baltimore, Maryland the day the Titanic sank. Vaclav was a hard worker, and was employed as a Mason. He became ill in 1918, and spent the rest of his life in a hospital. At the time of the 1930 Federal census, a James Halama was listed as residing in a hospital in Hastings.

Vaclav married Antonie Hlavsa before 1899 in Bohemia. Antonie was born on 16 Jan 1875 in Bohemia; died on 2 May 1961 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1920 Census, Antonie was listed as the head of household. Her sons were listed as Jim (21) , Mike (16), John (9) and Joe (7). Also living in the household was Antonie mothers, the 76 year old Josefa . Jim and Mike were both employed as laborers at stores. (1920 Census). She loved to crochet and raise a garden and flowers. (Milligan, p 281).

Notes:

Albert came alone to America in 1902 at the age of seventeen, to work for Vaclav Bernasek, whose mother was a Frycek. Albert became a citizen in 1906 at the District Court in Wilber. He set up his own homestead near Chugwater, Wyoming, but returned to Milligan to work for Joseph Jicha as a bartender at Central Hall. He was a member of ZCBJ Lodge and the Knights of Pythias. He and Marie helped perform many Czech plays at the Central Hall. Albert later worked for his father-in-law at the flour exchange, feed store and cream station. They bought a building in 1922 and engaged in the furniture, ambulance and undertaking business. In 1934, Albert had a heart attack and died after being called to the scene of a two car collison with eight people injured. Lillian continued the business until 1938, at which time she sold it to her brother, J.V. Kotas. She then opened a cafe and tavern in the building. Lillian had to work for quite a few years after Albert's death to pay off the mortgage on her home (Milligan, 272-273).

Albert married Lillian Kotas on 5 Apr 1915 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Lillian (daughter of Joseph Kotas and Marie Kubicek) was born on 26 Dec 1888 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 11 Feb 1972 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

After her graduation from Milligan in 1904, she taught at Rural School District #6 for two years. She also worked for her brother, Charles, at his grocery store. (Milligan, 273)/

Notes:

Married:
Married by Judge Fulton. Dinner was served at the home of the bride's parents, and wedding guests included the families, Mr. L.W. Dongress, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jicha. The out of town members present were Fred Kotas of Oak with a son and daughter and Deputy County Treasurer, Adolph Kotas, who was the best man. Anna Jicha was maid of honor. (Milligan, 273).