Phyllis Jean Kotas

Notes:

Obituary

Phyllis J. Engle

Funeral services for Phyllis will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 10:30 AM at First Congregational United Church of Christ with Pastor Diane Ryder officiating.

Visitation will be begin on Monday, February 2, 2015 at 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, NE.

Graveside services will be held in the Geneva Public Cemetery.

Memorials are to be directed to the family for a later designation.

Phyllis Jean Engle was born to Anton E. Kotas and Gertrude (Deaver) Kotas on December 20, 1925 at the family farm near Tobias, NE, and passed away January 29, 2015 at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, NE, at the age of 89 years, 1 month and 9 days. She was one of four children in the family.

Phyllis was born and raised on the family farm near Tobias, NE, and was baptized in the Catholic Faith as a child. She attended the Lone Star Country School through the 8th grade and graduated from Milligan High School in 1943. After high school she was employed at the Fairmont State Airbase.

Phyllis was united in marriage to George A. Engle of Geneva on April 25, 1946 and resided on a farm northeast of Geneva. After Phyllis married George, she joined the First Congregational Church. They had three children, Diane, George "Jr." and Barbara.

Phyllis was a quiet spoken lady and always found the good in everyone. She was a good cook, baker, and seamstress and loved her large garden.

George and Phyllis purchased the First Congregational Church parsonage on August 1, 1974 and together with Diane they moved in to town in December 1974. After moving to town Phyllis and Diane would drive to the country to raise baby chicks and a large garden.

She enjoyed dancing to Czech music. You could usually find George and Phyllis every Sunday at Pla-Mor Ballroom dancing the night away. While they were at Pla-Mor they ended up making many dancing friends.

Phyllis served her church in many capacities; as a member of the Women's Fellowship, she served as the President for several years. During holiday season she was more than willing to help with Thanksgiving Dinner the church put together. She was always willing to help the ladies of the church put together a meal for the family and congregation of a fellow member who had passed away. She was also a member of the Geneva Legion Auxiliary Post #68.

A favorite saying to her kids and one they will always remember was, "Two wrongs never makes it right".

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Donald Kotas; brothers-in-law, Francis "Fritz" Greenlee, Frank, Harold and Willis Engle; sisters-in-laws, Anna Vnoucek, Helen and Beth Engle; niece, Debbie Wiltshire; nephews, Herald Brian Wiltshire, Lawrence Engle and great-niece, Kristin Engle.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, George A. of Geneva; son, George Jr. and wife Susan of Geneva; daughters, Diane Engle of Geneva, Barbara Trapp and husband Tom of Geneva; sisters, Delmary Wiltshire of Lincoln, Faye Greenlee of York; sisters-in-law, Eleanor (Arlan) Becker of Exeter, Ruth (Delbert) Sorge of Geneva, Mary (Ronald) Uldrich of Milligan; brother-in-law, Joe A. Vnoucek of Friend; grandchildren, Loren Stephenson of Fairmont, Teresa (Herman) Rodriguez of Pecos, NM, James (Jean) Engle of Geneva, Rueben (Lisa) Engle of Clive, IA, Crystal Engle of York; 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and lots of nieces, nephews and friends.

Phyllis married George Alexander Engle on 25 Apr 1946 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. George was born on 7 Jan 1923 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 18 Aug 2015 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Geneva Public Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. George Allen Engle, Jr was born on 14 Jul 1948 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 30 Aug 2022 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried on 2 Sep 2022 in Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore, Nebraska.

Notes:

He attended grade school at District #44, and graduated from Milligan High School in 1915. In the spring of 1922, he moved to his own home west of Tobias in the SW 1/4 Section 1, Franklin Township. (Milligan, p 348).

SSN 506-48-6238

Anton married Gertrude Deaver on 22 May 1923 in Lodgepole, Cheyenne County, Nebraska. Gertrude was born on 9 Dec 1900 in Gilead, Thayer County, Nebraska; died on 25 Mar 1993 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of James DEAVER and Hester McGREGOR. Gertrude was teaching in Lodgepole, Nebraska, and has planned to return to Kearney State College, when her Uncle Bill DEAVER, informed her of a second grade teaching position in Milligan. He was the superintendent of school in Milligan. (Milligan, p 348).

Notes:

Married:
Gertrude and Anton met when she was teaching school in Milligan. Gertrude later gave up teaching in Milligan, and moved to Venango, Nebraska. One weekend in May, 1923, Anton packed his suitcause and model T and drove to Vanango. He and Gertrude motored down to Sidney, got a ring and a marriage license, and were married in the newly built Catholic Church in Lodgepole. Gertrude's brother, Joe DEAVER and a school teacher friend, Leatha GIBSON, were the witnesses. After their marriage, they headed east to their farm home south of Milligan. They lived on their farm for 62 years, moving into a house in Geneva in July, 1985. Anton lived their with Gertrude for only two months before he passed away. Gertrude moved to Geneva and made her new home with daughter Phyllis Jean ENGLE. (Milligan, p 348

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).

Notes:

He was born to Martin or Mattias KOTAS. He emigrated from Bohemia in 1868, settling first in Chicago for two years. The family left Illinois in October, 1870, arriving at the homestead of his sister and brother-in-law, Katherine and John PLACEK, who lived in Section 12 of Big Blue Township in Saline County. John and sons Frank and Joseph walked to Fillmore County to claim homesteads, which they filed in Beatrice on October 17, 1870, at the same time filing their naturalization papers. They lived with bachelor homesteader Frank ZNAJEMSKY until their dugout was built on October 25, 1870. John received his patent on May 16, 1878. The first dugout school of District #44 was on the KOTAS homestead. John was also instrumental in getting a Catholic Church built on his land, serving in the puplit occasionally as their was not resident priest. He also helped establish Ceski Brati, a Catholic Cemetery. Later in life, John purchased addtional land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, making it possible to give each of his 7 surviving children a farm. He and Barbara retired to Milligan. While repairing the roof of his home, he fell and was impaled on their picket fence. The funeral was conducted at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and he was buried in Ceski Brati cemetery near his son. More than 100 buggies followed the hearse to the cemetery. He is buried under the name KOTTAS, even though his railroad documents and homestead documents were executed using KOTAS. His son, W.J. was administrator of his estate, so this may account for the change in spelling. (Milligan, p 356). He was the son of Martin KOTAS and Mary PIPLA. (Milligan, p 357).

Jan married Barbara Svoboda before 1848 in Plzen, Bohemia. Barbara was born on 1 Apr 1829 in Ivanov, Zbyrov, Bohemia; died on 6 Mar 1899 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the aunt of Josephine SAUFL. (Milligan, p 316). After the death of her husband, she lived with her son Joseph in Milligan. (Milligan, p 356). She was the daugther of Josefa SVOBODA. (Milligan, p 357).

Notes:

Joseph and Anna Volmut came to the United States in 1889 with their two youngest daughters, Antonie (19) and Barbara (16). They lived with their oldest daughter, Mrs. John (Mary) Holpuch, of Altanta Precinct in Saline County. Two of the Volmut daughters, Mary and Anna, had come to Saline County earlier where they were married. (Milligan, p. 574).

Joseph married Anna Vanis. Anna was born on 11 Nov 1835 in Bohemia; died on 27 Mar 1903 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]