John Tesar, Sr.

John married Anezka "Agnes" Svec on 15 Feb 1898. Anezka (daughter of Vaclav "James" Svec and Marie "Mary" Suda) was born on 23 Sep 1877 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 15 Dec 1947 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Barbara A. Becwar. Barbara (daughter of Matej "Mike" Becwar, Sr. and Josephine Bech) was born on 4 Dec 1901 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 27 Mar 1997 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Elsie Slepicka. Elsie (daughter of Charles A Slepicka and Josephine Bors) was born on 5 Jun 1904 in Iowa; died on 21 Dec 2002 in Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Wilber Czech Cemetery (Bohemian-Slavonian Cemetery), Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Husband: Louis Tesar, parents John Tesar and Agnes Svec
Born: 2 Jun 1903, Friend
Died: 12 Jan 1984, Beaver Crossing
Buried: 14 Jan 1984, Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan
Brother: Bill
Sister: Mrs. Henry (Helen) Krivohlavek
Wife: Clara Capek, parents Joseph Capek and Josie Herynk
Married: 8 Oct 1929, Wilber
Sons: Lloyd; Sylvan; Delbert

Courtesy Richard Nohavec

Louis married Clara I. Capek on 8 Oct 1929 in Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. Clara (daughter of Joseph Capek and Josephine Herynk) was born on 4 Jan 1910 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 8 Feb 2005 in Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Arlene attended Peru State Teachers College and taught in rural District #33 and #5. She later managed the Milligan Co-op Grocery Store. (Milligan, p 312).

Arlene married Ralph MIlo Hromadka on 22 Feb 1946 in York, York County, Nebraska. Ralph (son of Frank Hromadka and Anna Herynk) was born on 10 Mar 1922 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died in Jul 1995. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A Funeral Service for Lorene will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the Milligan United Methodist Church in Milligan, Nebraska with Pastor Murry Johnston and Kim Dunker presiding.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Graveside Services will be conducted following the funeral service at the Bohemian National Cemetery in Milligan, Nebraska.

Memorials are to be directed to the Milligan Legion Auxiliary or Milligan United Methodist Church.

Lorene Jean Tesar Zeleny, youngest daughter of James J Tesar and Barbara Becwar Tesar was born on March 19, 1931 in Saline County on a farm four miles East of Milligan and entered into eternal rest on Sunday, July 7, 2019 at the age of 88 years.

Lorene graduated from Milligan High School in 1948, with a Normal Training teaching certificate enabling her to teach Fillmore County Rural School District #6, the same rural school she had attended as a child. During the summers, she worked at the ASCS farm office in Geneva and as a telephone operator at LT & T in Lincoln.

She married Bernard Zeleny on April 19, 1951 in the little white Methodist Church in Milligan. They lived their entire married life of 68 years on a farm Northwest of Milligan. God blessed them with two precious children, Carol and Dave.

Lorene was an active member of the Millligan United Methodist Church since 1953, serving in almost all elected and appointed offices; a sponsor for 12 years for MYF and Youth Choir, and Sunday School teacher for 14 years with perfect attendance.

She was a charter member of the Friend Hospital Auxiliary.

Lorene was a permanent member of the Milligan Legion Auxiliary Unit #240 serving in elected and appointed offices in the Unit, County and District 11. She serviced as Mother to the Junior Auxiliary at Girls State in 1977.

In 1975, she became a charter member of Bleu Valle Salon #76. In 1987, she was selected as Departmental Child Welfare Chairperson; she traveled the State of Nebraska visiting the Salons and she used magic to help emphasize her speeches on children with cystic Fibrosis.
In 1951, she became a member of Friendship Temple #20 of the Order of the Pythian Sisters, serving in all officer chairs, attaining Most Excellent Chief and later as District Most Excellent Chief.

She enjoyed many happy times with the Country Girls of '48; members of the Milligan Seniors and the bowling team of Bunker's Inn. As a member of the Legion Auxiliary Kitchen Band, she enjoyed dressing up as a clown, Santa, bum, hillbilly and Easter Bunny, bringing joy to others, especially at care homes.

Bernard and Lorene traveled all over America with the Becwar's and the Geneva State Ambassador Club making lasting friendships. In 2001, when she became visually impaired she became a member of the South Central Support Group at Shickley and also became Region #5 Representative on the Nebraska Board for the Visually Impaired serving in leadership and speaking positions. She never missed the Tesar Christmas. She felt like her cousins were close family. She was thrilled being a tele-care Grammie to the 5th Graders of Exeter-Milligan School
Lorene was a loving wife, a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a beloved friend. Her favorite times were when her family gathered together at the farm home. In her younger days, she loved to take care of vegetable and flower gardens; can and freeze her bounty; bake crescent rolls, pies and cinnamon rolls; raise chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. She loved to walk in the country with her dog, Louie; read newspapers and listen to the world and local news on TV; and she didn't want to be disturbed when she listed to the "soaps". She was a "die-hard" Democrat, serving on the Election Board from 1951 to 2002 until her eyesight failed.
Lorene will always be remembered by her warm, caring hugs, her constant smile and loving messages enclosed in everyone's greeting cards.

Lorene was preceded in death by: her parents, James J and Barbara Tesar; her husband's parents, Mike and Frances Uldrich Zeleny; sister, Arlene and husband, Ralph Hromadka; and brother-in-law, Bob Zeleny.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years Bernard; children: daughter, Carol and husband, Patrick Darnell of Lincoln; son, David of Milligan; grandchildren: Heather and husband, James Liggett of Kansas; Benjamin Darnell of Tucson, Arizona; Laura and husband, Cody Valentine of Beatrice; and Kristen Zeleny of Lincoln; great grandchildren: Aurora and Henry Liggett and Boston Donovan Zeleny; sister-in-law, Diane Zeleny; Soul Sister, Cheryl Tesar; Personal Adopted Sister, Jean Jacobsen; Niece, Barbara Hromadka and family; Nephews: Jim Zeleny and family; Mike and Amy Zeleny and family; and Jeff Zeleny.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Lorene married Bernard "Bennie" Wayne Zeleny on 19 Apr 1951 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Bernard (son of Michael Zeleny and Frances Uldrich) was born on 26 Dec 1926 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 28 Oct 2020 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On Dec. 24, 2021, LaVern Tesar, son of John and Elsie (Slepicka) Tesar, passed away at home in Kennewick, Washington, from heart failure. He recently celebrated his 94th birthday Dec. 18 with his extended family.

Vern was born on a farm near Exeter, then the family moved near Tobias, where he started grade school at the age of 4. The first few years of high school were in Milligan with graduation from Wilber High School. After three and one-half years serving in the Navy during World War II, he was married to Marjory Beck (daughter of Ed and Alice Beck) of Wilber on July 12, 1950. Vern received an Associates degree in electronics from Valparaiso Technical School and was hired by IBM, where he worked for 31 years. He became plant manager at the Boulder, Colorado, IBM facility.

While in retirement, he held jobs as a deputy sheriff, real estate salesman, search and rescue volunteer, Meals on Wheels driver and senior center cook. He was an avid elk hunter and craftsman, building a home in the Colorado mountains. After he moved to Washington state, he could often be found in the orchards picking the apples and cherries missed by the professional crews. He enjoyed salmon fishing, and clamming and crabbing ar the beaches. He was always ready to help friends during branding time, pushing cows through the squeeze chute. Vern enjoyed family time listening to Big Joe and Molly B polka music. Marjory and Vern enjoyed traveling to many locations around the world.

Vern is survived by his wife Marjory, and their three children, Randy, Gaye and Jon. He enjoyed the expansion of the family in recent years with seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Elaine, Darlene, Johnnie, Delyte, Rene and Vicki. His parents and brother, Larry, preceded him in death.

Vern will always be remembered as a very social person who enjoyed bringing people together. His family and his role in the family were very important to him. He will be missed by his family and friends.

Vern's ashes will be interred at the Wilber Czech Cemetery. Due to Covid concerns. a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

LaVern married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lloyd L. Tesar, age 80, of Aurora, died Sunday, October 23, 2011 in Aurora. Born December 21,1930 to Louis and Clara (Capek) Tesar in Beaver Crossing.

Survivors: wife, Ardis (West Peterson) Tesar of Aurora; sons, Tim Peterson and wife Kimmie of Dannebrog, Russ Peterson of Utica; daughters, Tara Hanneman and husband Kirk of Aurora, Shari Krejci and husband Mike of Aurora; five grandchildren; brother, Dr. Delbert Tesar and wife Rogene of Austin, Texas. Preceded in death by daughter, Leslie Marie.

Funeral services: 3 p.m. Friday, Milligan Auditorium, Milligan, Neb., Father Kenneth Borowiak officiating. Military graveside serves: Bohemian National Cemetery. Visitation beginning Thursday 1 p.m. until 8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5 until 7, at Farmer & Son Funeral Home, Kotas Chapel in Milligan. Memorials to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com

Lincoln Journal Star, October 25, 2011, courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy

Lloyd Leslie Tesar was born December 21, 1930, on a farm near Beaver Crossing, Nebraska. His parents were Louis and Clara (Capek) Tesar of Beaver Crossing. Lloyd was the oldest of four children and passed away Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the Memorial Hospital in Aurora, Nebraska at the age of 80 years 10 months and two days. As a young boy, he attended Beaver Crossing School and graduated with the class of 1948.
Shortly after his graduation from Beaver Crossing High School, Lloyd enlisted and entered the United States Air Force in January of 1951. There he met his life-long friend, Captain Jack Delaigle, and his wife Mary from Georgia. A highlight of his AP (Air Police) duty was saluting General Dwight D. Eisenhower as he entered Forbes Air Base in Topeka, Kansas. Lloyd achieved the rank of staff sergeant and wore four stripes. He was honorably discharged in December of 1954.
Before returning to the family farm, Lloyd owned a bar and was a professional painter specializing in high work which included towers, buildings, and bridges. With this work, he met two more life-long friends, Virgil Petersen and John Lape. Lloyd, then came back to the family farm near Beaver Crossing to raise cattle, seed corn, and other row crops. In 1978, he received a Grower Recognition Award from Golden Harvest for an outstanding high yield.
He married his loving wife, Ardis (West) Peterson, March 9, 1973. They met at a dance and continued to enjoy dancing for most of their 37 years of marriage. He was very proud to show off their golden goblets for best Polka Dancers. Lloyd and Ardis made wonderful memories taking numerous trips visiting family and friends across the country.
Lloyd was a 52 year member of the American Legion Holmes Post #178 of Beaver Crossing. He enjoyed a good game of cards or a night of bowling. He could often be found fishing off the Beaver Creek bridge or stump fishing in the Blue River. Good times were had coon hunting with his sons, Tim and Russ, and he loved teaching daughters, Tara and Shari, how to dance.
In July of 1995, lung cancer forced Lloyd to retire from farming. Later in 2005, Lloyd and Ardis moved to Aurora to be closer to their family. He cherished the frequent visits made by the grandkids. Lloyd was very proud of the beautiful new home they shared for six wonderful years.
He is survived by his wife, Ardis, children and spouses, Tim and Kimmie Peterson, Dannebrog, NE, Russ Peterson, Utica, NE, Tara and Kirk Hanneman, Aurora, NE, and Shari and Mike Krejci, Aurora, NE, grandchildren, Amber Peterson, Cheyenne, WY, Hailey and Kash Hanneman, Aurora, NE, Cole and Carson Krejci, Aurora, NE, brother, Dr. Delbert Tesar, sister in law, Rogene, Austin, TX, nieces and nephews, Myron "Ron" Tesar, Cyndee Smith, Cheryl Gray, Vim Tesar, Aleta Wilder, Landon Tesar, and Allison Woodall.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Sylvan and Delmar Tesar, his daughter Leslie Marie Tesar, his parents, Louis and Clara Tesar.
Services for Lloyd will be Friday, October 28, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at the Milligan Auditorium in Milligan, Nebraska. Visitation will begin Thursday at 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm with the family greeting friends from 5 until 7. Graveside services with Military Honors will in the Bohemian National Cemetery. Memorials are directed to the family.

Notes:

Sylvan LeRoy Tesar of Beaver Crossing, was born at his parents farm south of Beaver Crossing, Nebraska on February 22, 1933 to Louis and Clara (Capek) Tesar, the 2nd of 4 children and passed away Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Friend Manor in Friend, Nebraska at the age of 78 years 2 months and 29 days. As a young boy he attended and graduated from Beaver Crossing Public School with the class of 1951. Sylvan served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict at Fort Bragg, NC and returned to Nebraska to farm in the Beaver Crossing area until his retirement in 1994. In 1955, he was united in marriage to Elaine Simacek and to this union two children, Ron and Cyndee were born. He later was blessed with a second marriage to Lois (Niewedde) Vollstedt, bringing three more children to his life, Lodeen, Arlen, and Cheryl. He later adopted Cheryl in 1965. Sylvan was a life-long farmer, farming west of Beaver Crossing until his retirement in 1994. His care of the land over the years was rewarded with a Seward County Conservation Award and also the National Achievement Award in 1969. After his retirement from the farm he built and lived in his log cabin home near Beaver Crossing until he entered the Friend Manor in March of 2009. He was a member of the Beaver Crossing United Methodist Church and was a lifetime member of the American Legion Holmes Post #178, serving as the District #12 Commander. He also was a member of the Forty and 8 in Lincoln. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing and received a Master Angler award. He also enjoyed bowling, trap shooting, traveling to Branson, Missouri in the summer and winter vacationing in Mercedes, TX. He and his wife of 38 years, Lois, spent many enjoyable hours attending dances around the area with special times at the Flying V and Pla Mor Ballroom. He is survived by his children and spouses, Cheryl and Daniel Gray, Grand Island, NE, Myron "Ron" and Linda Tesar, Brooksville, FL, Cyndee Smith, St. Petersburg, FL, step children and spouses, Lodeen and Dennis Koranda, Jr., Seward, Arlen and Susan Vollstedt, Garland, grandchildren and spouses, Alexis Conway and Jentry Smith, St. Petersburg, FL, Shawn and Kim Mortensen, Norton, KS, Leah and Linc Reynolds, Huntsville, AL, Andy and Mandy Mortensen, Lincoln, McKenzie Mortensen, also of Lincoln, Kevin and Ginny Koranda, Rodney and Carmen Koranda, Bryan and Tracy Koranda, all of Seward, Jennifer and Jason Brase, Staplehurst, Julie and Chad Phillips, Garland, Janelle and Travis Schaefer, Seward, 19 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, brothers and sisters-in-law, Lloyd and Ardis Tesar, Aurora, Dr. Delbert and Rogene Tesar, Austin, TX, nieces, nephews, and spouses, Vim Tesar, Aleta Tesar, Landon Tesar, Allison Woodall, Tara Hanneman, Shari Krejcil, great nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, Delmar Tesar, an infant son, Keith Tesar, his parents, Louis and Clara Tesar and his former spouses, Elaine and Lois A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 4pm at the Beaver Crossing United Methodist Church with Rev. Betsy Galloway-Carew officiating. Burial of ashes with military honors conducted by Holmes Post #178 will be at the Bohemian National Cemetery in Milligan at 1pm also on Thursday. Memorials have been established and are directed in care of the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Beaver Crossing.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)