Bernard "Bennie" Wayne Zeleny

1926 - 2020  (93 years)

• Name	Bernard "Bennie" Wayne Zeleny  [1]
  Nickname	Bennie
  Birth	26 Dec 1926	Fillmore County, Nebraska   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	28 Oct 2020	Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska   [1]
  Burial	Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska   [1]
  Notes	Obituary A Funeral Service for Bernard will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Milligan, Nebraska with Pastor Murry Johnston presiding. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 2, 2020 at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family greeting the public from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Military Graveside Services will be conducted by the Milligan American Legion HSSK Post 240 at the Bohemian National Cemetery in Milligan, Nebraska. Memorials are to be directed to the Milligan American Legion or the Milligan Fire & Rescue. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic masks will be required. All requirements by the DHM for COVID-19 protocol will be followed. A Livestream Video of the Funeral Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. To view the Livestream Video you can go to Farmer & Son Funeral Home's Facebook Page or in your search engine type @friendlyfuneraldirectors and click the link to Farmer & Son Funeral Home's Facebook Page. You do not have to have Facebook to view the Livestream Video. Bernard Wayne Zeleny was born to Mike Zeleny and Frances Uldrich Zeleny on December 26, 1926 at the farm home 2 miles south of Burress, Nebraska. Bernard left his family's arms for God's on October 28, 2020 at the Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva, Nebraska. As a young boy, Bernard attended Country School District #68 for two years and after his parents moved to the home place, he finished his country schooling at District #25. He later graduated with the Class of 1944 from Exeter Public School. During his youth, he enjoyed hunting with his childhood friend, Don Sluka, also trapping fur bearing animals. He was a loyal member of a beef 4-H Club. Bernard played football in High School and was active in school plays. During World War II, Bernard was drafted into the US Army at 18 years old and was honorably discharged in 1945. He was a 74 year member of the Milligan American Legion Post #240; serving faithfully in the Color Guard. He was a Charter Member of the Milligan Rural Fireman, later serving as President. He was a member of the Milligan Lodge, Knights of Pythias, serving in all officer positions until attaining Chancellor. Bernard was an active member of the Milligan United Methodist Church for over 60 years. Bernard was united in marriage to Lorene Tesar 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. He was a farmer and enjoyed farming with John Deere and Oliver tractors. Bernard raised cattle all of his life. He enjoyed fixing things, reading and watching TV, especially local news, weather, and farm markets. God blessed their marriage with two precious children, Carol Louise and David Wayne. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather with a kind heart and a gentle spirit. Bernard was a man of simple tastes. He loved his family and treasured his friends. His gentle soul and quiet manner earned him the affection and admiration of many. His hard work and thoughtful management enabled his family to survive and thrive. Bernard was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lorene, his parents, Mike and Frances Zeleny, brother, Bob Zeleny, brother & sister-in-law, Ralph and Arlene Hromadka, parents-in-law, James and Barbara Tesar, and nephew, Jim Zeleny. He is survived by his children: daughter, Carol and husband, Patrick Darnell of Lincoln; and son, David of Milligan; grandchildren: Heather 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, Boston Donovan Zeleny and Vincent Valentine; sister-in-law, Diane Zeleny; nieces and nephews: Barbara Hromadka; Mike and wife, Amy Zeleny; Jeff Zeleny; Logan, Sam and Max Zeleny; Claire, Katherine, John and Lauren Zeleny; Deb and husband, Todd Cook and family; and Cindy Thieszen; and many cousins and friends. (Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)
  Person ID	I47587	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	16 Jun 2023

  
  

  Father	Michael Zeleny,   b. 25 Oct 1901   d. 15 Sep 1968, Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska (Age 66 years)
  Mother	Frances Uldrich,   b. 10 Sep 1909, Nebraska d. 4 Feb 1985, Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska (Age 75 years)
  Marriage	30 Jun 1926  [2]
  	Michael and Frances were the parents of Bernard Zeleny, who married Lorene Tesar on 19 Apr 1951. Bernard and Lorene were the parents of Carol Zeleny (Mrs. Patrick Darnell) and David. Michael and Frances were also the parents of Robert Dean "Bob" Zeleny. He married Diane YECK, they were the parents of Michael Jon Zeleny.
  Family ID	F10479	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Lorene Jean Tesar,   b. 19 Mar 1931, Saline County, Nebraska d. 7 Jul 2019, Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	19 Apr 1951	Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska   [1]
  Family ID	F14234	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Nov 2020

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 26 Dec 1926 - Fillmore County, Nebraska Marriage - 19 Apr 1951 - Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska Death - 28 Oct 2020 - Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska Burial - - Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), Memorial ID 217847023 (Reliability: 3). [S548] Belohlavy, Dennis (belohdb@windstream.net) "Family Tree of Dennis L. and Rebecca J. "Becky" (Arnold) Belohlavy ; http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=belohlavy, (http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=belohlavy).