Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Edward was born on the farm by Milligan where he lived all his life. He attended school District #44, and was a graduate of Milligan High School. He served in the military from December, 1944 through September, 1946; after that he farmed for the rest of his life. (Milligan, p 362).

Edward married Lorene Emily Elznic on 11 Oct 1955 in York, York County, Nebraska. Lorene (daughter of Anton F. "Fred" Elznic and Mary Paroubek) was born on 19 Jul 1937 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 27 Jul 2023 in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Lorene E. Elznic Kottas was born near Tobias, Nebraska on 19 July 1937. Her parents were Anton F. and Mary Paroubek Elznic. Lorene attended Tobias Public School for three and one half years and thenthe family moved and she attended District #89 in Saline County through the eighth grade, returning to the Tobias Public School, graduating in 1955. Her family included two brothers, Leo Elznic who died at birth, Larry Elznic, and one sister, Lenoris Girmus." (Milligan, p 232).

Lorene Buzek moved to Milligan on July 1, 2003. She bought the house that was previously owned by R. D. and Nancy Gentry. Lorene is still active in the American Legion Auxiliary. As of this writing, she is the President of the Auxiliary. She enjoys helping working a the bar when needed both at the American Legion and the Milligan Auditorium. At this time she has seven grandchildren, Dillon STEINACHER; Jason SRAJHANS and his wife Ashley; Jo SRAJHANS and his wife, Christina; Michelle FUNK, Melissa SIEBER and her husband, Troy SIEBER, Shawn KOTTAS and Sharlene (Kottas) HARRE and her husband, Justin. She also has five great-grandchildren: Trenton SRAJHANS, Treygan SRAJHANS, Taylor SIEBER, Carsen SIEBER, and Lily SRAJHANS. (Milligan, 1988-2008, p. 131).

OBITUARY

Lorene E. Buzek

A Funeral Service for Lorene will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Milligan Auditorium in Milligan, Nebraska. Kim Dunker will preside over the Funeral Service.

A Graveside Service will be held in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Milligan, Nebraska following the Funeral Service.

Public visitation will be held on Monday, July 31, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Milligan, Nebraska.

Memorials are suggested to the Milligan American Legion Auxiliary or the Milligan or Fairmont Fire & Rescue Squads.

Lorene E. (Elznic) Kottas - Buzek was born near Tobias, Nebraska on July 19, 1937 and passed away at Fairview Manor in Fairmont, Nebraska, on July 27, 2023 at the age of 86 years, and 8 days. Her parents were Anton F. & Mary (Paroubek) Elznic. She attended Tobias Public School for 3 ? years. Then the family moved and she attended Dist. #89 in Saline County through the 8th grade. She then returned to Tobias Public School and graduated in 1955.

Her family included two brothers, Leo, who died at birth, & Larry, and one sister Lenoris Girmus.

Lorene married Edward Frank Kottas on October 11, 1955 at York, Ne. They had 4 children: Marilyn, Beverly, Robert, & Richard. After Ed's passing on July 20, 1984, Lorene married Wesley Buzek on September 25, 1985.

Lorene was a homemaker. She enjoyed working on the farm, gardening, raising chickens, ducks, turkeys and guineas. She would always lend a helping hand in the field wherever needed. In later years, she worked at various jobs including; Ron's Tavern, Bunker's Inn, Food Basket, The Frosty Mug, Bev's Bar & Grill, Bubba's Anytime, Heritage Crossings, and Dollar General.

She enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She worked many Stags where she enjoyed dealing Blackjack as well as tending bar. She tended bar at the Milligan auditorium as well when needed.

She held various offices in the Milligan Legion Auxiliary HSSK Post #240. She was instrumental in lining up many casino trips, as well as trips to Branson, Missouri, with bus driver Jim Suda.

Preceding Lorene in death, were her husbands Edward F. Kottas and Wesley E. Buzek; son Robert E. Kottas and daughter-in-law Rose M. Kottas; parents Anton & Mary Elznic; and siblings, Leo Elznic, sister Lenoris Girmus and husband Rudy, & Larry Elznic.

Lorene is survived by her children, Marilyn and husband Brian Srajhans of Tobias, Nebraska, Beverly Mohlman of Strang, Nebraska, and Richard Kottas of Exeter, Nebraska; grandchildren, Jason & Ashley Srajhans of Milligan, Nebraska; Joseph & Christina Srajhans of Geneva, Nebraska; Michelle Funk & Shawn Brooks of Davenport, Nebraska; Melissa & Troy Sieber of Davenport, Nebraska; Dillon & Haeli Steinacher of Exeter, Nebraska; Shawn & Lyndsey Kottas of Geneva, Nebraska; and Sharlene & Justin Harre of Exeter, Nebraska; great grandchildren, Trenton, Treygan, and Trevan Srajhans; Lilly & Riley Srajhans; Taylor, Carson & Tinley Sieber; Koby Steinacher; and Cohen & Braxton Harre; sister-in-law, Sharon Elznic; sister-in-law & brother-in-law Lorene & Don Sluka; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors. Lorene was well-loved and will be deeply missed by family, friends, and community.

Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, from Farmer & Son

Living married Sue Van Buskirk Sue was born on 19 Oct 1935 in Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska; died on 28 Feb 2010 in San Diego County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Everett F. VAN BUSKIRK and Mary H. PETERSON. She worked three years as a rural school teacher, and later attended the Lincoln School of Commerce. She worked for the Nebraska Workmen's Compensation Court, and as an executive secretary for a contractor in San Diego. (Milligan, p 360).

KOTAS, SUE A. Sue A. Kotas of San Diego passed away on February 28, 2010, at the age of 74, after a courageous battle with cancer. Her family surrounded her as she slipped away as she did everything with grace and dignity. Born in Nebraska on October 19, 1935. She was raised in Beatrice, NE, graduated from Beatrice High School, attended Doane College to teach country school for two years in the Beatrice area. Moved to Lincoln to attend Lincoln School of Commerce and became a secretary at the State Capital until marrying Reenlee Kotas of Milligan, NE on January 25, 1958. The family moved to San Diego in May of 1967 and has resided there since. Sue was active in PTA, Little League and the Model A Club. She enjoyed doing crafts and needlework. She worked for AO Reed Plumbing & Heating 10 years as an Executive Secretary and soon after she ran a home daycare for 12 years and touched the many lives that passed through her doors. She also enjoyed collecting teddy bears and traveling which included many trips to Nebraska to visit children and grandchildren. She actively took cruises and went camping with family and friends. Her parents, Mary and Everett Van Buskirk, preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband, Reenlee H. Kotas Sr., children, Denise and (Scott) Worrell of Milligan, NE, Darcy and (Jason) Richtarik of Wilber, NE, Reenlee II and (Lynne) Kotas of Ramona, CA and Kevin and (Charito) Kotas of Bonita, CA, sister, Sheli and (Richard) Schwindt of Phoenix, AZ, 10 grandchildren: Brandon, Melissa, Allison, Molly, Bailey, Amanda, Shawn, Sharlene, Hunter and Ryan and two great-grandchildren: Cohen and Ensley. She was a loving and caring person and will truly be missed. Services will be at Clairemont Mortuary on Saturday, March 6th, 11 am.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Frank married Emma V. Herynk on 15 Apr 1913 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Emma (daughter of Anton Herynk and Terezie Vejraska) was born on 14 Feb 1893 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 16 Apr 1980 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Frank attended school through the eighth grade, after which time he started farming with his dad. After he married Emma, they farmed together for the next fifty years. Frank and Emma's son, Edward Frank now farm on the home place.

Notes:

He attended rural school #85 in Saline County. As a young man, he earned his living by working on threshing crews and corn shelling crews. During the harvest time, the hired men slept in a hayloft or hay rack. On 5 September 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was a private in the Model Machine Gun Company A, 163rd Battalion and was stationed at Camp Hancoda in Georgia. During basic training, he contracted the influenza that was sieging the country, and was unable to embark overseas with this company. He received an honorable discharge at Camp Dodge, Iowa on February 28, 1919. After his discharge, he engaged in farming west of Geneva. Anton worked with horses, and had many scars that resulted when he was breaking the young colts. He was in a threshing crew with the Spicka brothers, Joseph Herynk and Ed Kuss. To supplement the farm income during the depression, he used his team of horses to help with WPA road construction in Saline County (Milligan, pp 265-266).

Anton married Mary Paroubek on 19 Jan 1926 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Mary was born on 22 Aug 1908 in Plzen, Bohemia; died on 25 Jul 1996 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried on 29 Jul 1996 in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Daughter of Mike Paroubek and Marie Korensky. Mary and her mother embarked on their transatlantic journey, to join Mary's father Mike who had previously emigrated, from Breman, Germany aboard the Loyd. They were processed through Ellis Island, and journeyed by train to the Vencil Ruzicka farm. Mary attended rural school district #85 in Saline County, graduating from the Milligan Schools. (Milligan, p 266).


Elznic- Mary, 87, Milligan, died Thursday (7/25/96) in Geneva. Survivors: son, Larry, Geneva; daughters, Lenoris Girmus, Ohiowa, Loren Buzek, Exeter; sister, Emilye Girmus, Friend; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Farmer & Son Funeral Home-Kotas Chapel, Milligan. Milligan North Cemetery. Visitation: begins 1 p.m. Sunday, funeral home. Memorials in care of family.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, Lincoln Star Journal Archives)

Notes:

Henry and Mae lived one year in Milligan, then moved to their farm six miles north of Milligan, here they farmed for fifteen years. They sold the farm in 1944 to Fred KOVANDA and moved to Milligan. There Henry worked for Edward "Swede" BULIN for one year and for Joe JICHA distributing beer for two years. He worked for the Auditorium doing custodian work for fifteen years, and last for the Kansas-Nebraska Gas Company until his retirement in 1966. (Milligan, p 354).

Henry married Mae Frances Kubicek on 23 Apr 1929 in Nebraska. Mae (daughter of Fred James Kubicek and Anna Elizabeth Tenopir) was born on 11 Mar 1909 in Nebraska; died on 23 Jun 2004 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]