Karl Vaclav Kotas

Notes:

Karl graduated from Milligan High School with the Class of 1934. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He attended watch repair school, going into business in Milligan and later moving to Lincoln, where he made his home. (Milligan, p 354).

Obituary

Kotas - Karl V., 82, Lincoln, died Tuesday (10/29/96). Born, Milligan. Watch repairman, Sartor Hamann. Member, VFW, Lincoln. Decorated WWII Army veteran; served with Company A, 133rd Ordinance Maintenance Battalion, 11th Armored Division, with General Patton's 3rd Army. Resident of Lincoln since 1965. Survivors: nephews, Dan Kotas, Milligan, James Kotas, Lawrence, Kan.; nieces, Nancy Slepicka, Dorchester, Janet Dunn, Lawrence; cousin, Arlene Weaver, Fremont.

Services: 2 p.m. Friday, United Methodist Church, Milligan. Milligan Cemetery. Graveside service, American Legion Post 240, Milligan. Visitation: Thursday, noon-9 p.m., Wadlow-Rozanek Colonial Chapel, 5200 R St.; Friday, 11 a.m. until services, church. Memorials to United Methodist Church, Milligan

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, 30 October 1996 Lincoln Journal Star)

Notes:

J.V. was a watch repairman and electrician, owning his own plant and later selling it to the Iowa-Nebraska Power Company. He also worked with his sister, Lillian FRYCEK, in the funeral business which he later took over. (Milligan, p 354).

James married Frances Michl on 22 Feb 1909 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Frances was born on 12 Apr 1890 in Saline County, Nebraska; died on 26 May 1973 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Frank MICHL and Anna ZALESKY. Frances was one of the charter members of the Milligan Woman's Club, and also a member of the Milligan Methodist Church (Milligan, p 354).

Notes:

Married:
James and Frances, along with four other couples, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Capek, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hromadka, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Capek and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schultz were married at the same time by Judge Fulton. (Milligan, p 307).

Notes:

Joseph Kotas claimed 80 acres as a homestead just east of his father and brother, W 1/2 NE 1/4 on March 6, 1871. He later cancelled this to purchase land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Glengary Township. After they completed the purchase of this land, they sold it to his parents. The first Catholic Church was built here. He bought and sold much land in the Milligan area, as well as operating several business. He served as Town Marshall as well (Milligan, p 359).

Joseph married Marie Kubicek on 2 Jan 1873 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Marie was born before 1855 in Nezamyslice, Pisek, Bohemia; died on 2 Mar 1927 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Joseph KUBICEK and Anna JELINEK. (Milligan, p 359).

Notes:

Married:
Joseph KOTAS, age 24, married Mary KUBICEK, age 22, on January 2, 1873 at the office of the County Judge in Geneva. John BLAIR and Joseph RUZICKA were the witnesses. Sons Joie, Emil and Rudolph died as infants. (Milligan, p 273).

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).