John Henry Kotas

Notes:

John graduated from Milligan High School in 1913, after which he farmed with his father. He was drafted into the U.S. Military on May 28, 1918, and was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa for training. He was sent to France with Company D, 350 Infantry, 88th Division in August, 1918, from Long Island, New York, where he came down with influenza. He was sent to the front line the day the Armistice was signed, on November 11, 1918. He remained in France for police action, returning home in May, 1919. He was discharged in June. After marrying his sweetheart, Anna KOCA, the couple made their home on the Kotas family farm in Section 3 of Glengary Township. They moved to town in 1925. (Milligan, p 358-359).

John married Anna Rose Koca on 2 Sep 1924 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Anna (daughter of Vaclav Koca and Marie Bernasek) was born on 6 Apr 1903 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 17 Jun 2002 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A 1943 graduate of Milligan High School, she worked in many farm homes and also as a clerk-typist with the Quartermaster Corps at the Fairmont Army Air Base. (Milligan, p 313).

She continued to farm after Merlin entered the Exeter Care Center in 1989, where he passed away in 1992. When Rose Maried turned 65, she retired from farming. She was the volunteer librarian for the Nebraska State Genealogical Society for twenty years, and complied twenty-two publications for them. She also organized the Fillmore County Genealogical Society. Other memberships include the Milligan Fraternal Lodge #76 and the HSSK American Legion Auxiliary Unit.

(Milligan, 1988-2008, p. 177).

Rose married Merlin K. Hulse on 14 Oct 1947 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Merlin was born on 19 Nov 1925 in Monroe Twp, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 31 Mar 1992 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Joe attended rural school, graduating from Milligan High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army from July 1951 through July 1953. After his basic training in Camp Gordon, Georgia he was stationed in Korea as a Military Policeman, where he was responsible for transporting prisoners of war. After his discharge, he returned to Saline County, Nebraska to farm. He moved back to the Kotas family farm, making his home with his parents, after his father retired. Along with farming, he is a hog feeder and breeder, a member of the American Legion and Cornhuskers Lodge, along with serving on the board of the Milligan Auditorium and Ceski Brati cemetery. (Milligan, p 355).

Joseph married Grace Helen Sobotka on 17 Jul 1976 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. Grace was born on 8 Feb 1925; died in Nov 2019 in Crete, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A 1967 graduate of Exeter High School, he attended the University of Nebraska for a year and a half, entering the U.S. Army in July 1969, and being sent to Viet Nam in December. He received a hardship discharge in October 1970 after his father suffered a heart attack and needed him to take over the family business. (Milligan, p 314).

He lives in York, working for many years as a parts person at Stahling Trucking. His life companion now is Janelle Givens, a divorcee, who had served with the military in Viet Nam. (Milligan, 1988-2008, p. 177).

Obituary, courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy

Kenneth L. Hulse, age 71 of York, died Friday, May 29, 2020 at York

He was born on Dec. 21, 1948 to Merlin and Rose Marie (Kotas) Hulse at Friend. Kenn served his country as a member of the United States Army from July 22, 1969 to Oct. 14, 1970.

Kenn was a retired assistant parts manager at Sahling Kenworth in York. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Kenn loved to play golf and was a member of the York Country Club. He also enjoyed gardening and sharing his produce with family and friends.

Kenn is survived by Jan Givens of York; daughters, Jennifer (Stephen Stromberg) Martin of Phoenix, Ariz. and Laura (Steve Simon) Tanner of Phoenix, Ariz.; Jan's children: Maegan (Jared Hatra) Lamprecht of Wahoo and Joshua (Penny) Givens of York; grandchildren: Soren, Ashleigh, Avery, Rees, Zain, Zac, Lexi, Cooper, Bailey, and Liam; and his sister Karolyn (Jerry) Andrews of Wichita, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and Jan's daughter, Holly Givens.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday June 3, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church in York with the Reverend Tony Dawson officiating. COVID 19 Funeral Guidelines will be implemented with limited spaced seating and masks encouraged. Military Honors will be performed at the church.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 1 ? 8 p.m. at the mortuary with masks encouraged.

Kenn's service will also be webcasted live on Metz Mortuary's Facebook page.

Kenn has chosen to donate his body to the Nebraska Anatomical Board for medical education and research following his funeral service.

Kenneth married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]