Jean Bernasek

Notes:

Obituary
(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

A public Funeral Service for Jean will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fairmont Community Church in Fairmont, Nebraska. Pastor Seungli You will officiate the service.

There will be no public visitation per Jean's wishes. Following the Funeral Service, Jean will be cremated and her ashes will be interred at the Fairmont Public Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Neil Priefert Scholarship Fund or the Fairmont Community Church.

Due to the Covid 19 Epidemic, we will be practicing social distancing guidelines at the Funeral Service.

Jean (Bernasek) Priefert was born March 1, 1935 in Geneva, NE to James and Alba (Fujan) Bernasek. She passed away on June 21, 2020 at her home near Fairmont, Nebraska at the age of 85 years, 3 months, and 20 days.

She graduated from Geneva High School. On September 5, 1954 she married Neil Priefert at the United Brethren Church in Geneva. Neil and Jean were married for 63 years. Four daughters filled their home with activity; Mary, Carol, Linda and Susan.

Jean was a 50-year member of the Fairmont Federated Women's Club. She enjoyed the camaraderie as well as the community mindedness of this group of women. Jean was also an active member of WIFE, Women Involved in Farm Economics. Her task for the weekend of her death was getting a newsletter article written for them. Jean was a founding member of the Nebraska Poll-ettes and served on the National Poll-ette Cookbook Committee typing sections of the cookbook with recipes submitted from around the nation on a Royal manual typewriter at the kitchen table. In 2017 she was honored as the National Hereford Woman of the Year at the American Royal in Kansas City, MO.

Jean enjoyed the outdoors and her animals. Every morning and every evening you could find her "doing chores," feeding cats, dogs, letting the chickens out and feeding grain to the cows. While spending years in the registered cattle business, it wasn't unusual to find a calf being warmed in the bathtub, or a chicken being nurtured back to health after falling in the oil pit. While many used the Sunbeam electric skillet to fry chicken on the kitchen counter, Jean hatched baby chicks in hers. The story had been told of Jean, classmates Elaine and Helen Carol, being caught with a kitten hidden in a box in their Home Ec class by Miss Betty Christiancy. Betty Christiancy went on to be Betty Betka, who was Jean's daughters 4-H leader.

The registered cattle herd was an integral part of Jean's life on the farm. Hours were spent at the kitchen table filling out registration forms, recording birth weights, and weaning weights. The neighborhood party line let callers know when Jean wasn't home and let Jean know someone was looking for a bull. Life-long friendships developed as the family spent time each summer attending cattle tours with the Riffel family, county and state fairs, Junior Nationals and AK-SAR-BEN, auctions in the winter, and progress shows in the spring. Jean and Neil enjoyed traveling the country to the Standard of Perfection Shows in Kansas City, Denver, Fort Worth and Portland. Neil and Jean were avid supporters of young people in the beef industry, hence the Neil Priefert Scholarship for a member of the Nebraska Junior Hereford Association. In recent years, Jean and Neil were staples at the Sutton sale barn for lunch on Fridays. They recorded the lot number, weight and price of every animal that went thru the ring.

Jean farmed right along side her husband. It wasn't unusual to see her on the tractor, headed to the field. She also made many parts runs for Neil. It is quite possible some of those parts were to repair equipment she'd been using. Tractors didn't always have cabs then, but Jean was happy if the tractor had a radio so she could listen to polkas, KRVN and baseball games on KFAB.

Jean coached countless innings of girls' softball in Fairmont. Playing catch in the yard with her daughters was a normal part of summers. She played many seasons on the Fairmont Lion's Club women's team. She could be counted on to try a bunt and steal a base. The women's team's season culminated at the Strang Tournament where the team won the coveted trophy several successive seasons. Her pregnancy with youngest daughter Susan was kept a secret from everyone so Grandma Bernasek wouldn't be upset to see Jean continuing to catch behind home plate with Bonnie Nelson on the mound.

Jean spent her working career as a Cottage Parent at YRTC in Geneva. Following her retirement from YRTC, she drove for Eichman's transport company in York. She transported Epworth Village residents and clients to school and varioius appointments. Any unwholesome conversations or arguments between students brought them an exposure to Jean's Czech heritage as she turned up her polka music on the radio.

Jean was a pioneer in her own right. She was concerned about ground water, soil conditions, and proper care of animals. She was an avid gardener, promoting nutrition to her family before it was a public health initiative. What would be called family bonding time today, took place on the back step as Jean and the girls snapped 5-gallon buckets of green beans while swatting mosquitos. Jean was a tireless supporter of the beef industry and providing home-raised beef for her family. She spent many years supporting youth, sitting on the bleachers watching ballgames and cattle shows after her own family was raised. She spoke her mind and was proud of her heritage. She cared deeply about sports opportunities and education for girls. She truly was ahead of her time.

Jean was proceeded in death by her husband Neil, her parents, James and Alba Bernasek and in-laws Elmer and Margaret Priefert.

Those who remain are: Daughters: Mary (Dana) Scott of York, NE; Carol (David Wentworth) Priefert of Centennial, WY; Linda (Kirby) Zuerlein of Fairmont, NE. Grandchildren: Zac (Amanda) Scott of York, NE; Nick (Kelsey) Scott of Norfolk, NE; Ryan (Sara Stearns) Scott of York, NE; Adam (Anna) Scott of Lincoln, Curtis (Sydney) Scott of Gretna, NE; Lindsey Carroll of Lincoln; Danielle (Dakota) Cooper of York, NE; and Leslie Carroll of Fairmont, NE. Great-grandchildren: Jane Scott, Ethan Stearns, Hudson and Wyatt Scott, and Dominic, Derek & Dusty Cooper.

Jean married Neil E. Priefert on 5 Sep 1954 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Neil was born on 24 Apr 1929 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 27 Jan 2019 in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Fairmont Public Cemetery, Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Linda Jean Priefert was born on 21 Feb 1961 in York County, Nebraska; died on 8 Jul 2023 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; was buried on 12 Jul 2023 in Fairmont Public Cemetery, Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska.

James married Alba Fujan on 25 Oct 1932 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska. Alba (daughter of Frank Fujan, Jr. and Anna Pribyl) was born on 22 Feb 1901 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 30 Jul 1985 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried on 1 Aug 1985 in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They were the parents of Jean Priefert (Milligan, p 200)...they had one daughter, Jean, who married Neil Priefert (Milligan, p 275). Dennis Belohlavy emailed that per the " 07 Sep Lincoln Journal Star, Neil and Jean married 05 Sep 1954 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. They have 4 daughters, Mary, Carol, Linda and Susan."

Notes:

Cyril was only ten years old when he came to America with his parents. He should have automatically become a citizen when his father was naturalized. Fearing he might be deported back to Bohemia at the outbreak of the First World War, he filed a declaration of intent to become a U.S. Citizen in Fillmore County on 24 July 1919. He was sworn in as a citizen on 4 October 1921, with Charles Smrha of Milligan and James Delaney of Exeter as witnesses. (Milligan, pp 199 - 200).

Cyril married Marie Andelova on 16 May 1889 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Marie (daughter of Vaclav Andel and Marie Ziskova) was born on 23 Aug 1869 in Hlinci, Plzen, Bohemia; died on 12 May 1922 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried on 14 May 1922 in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She came to America on June 9, 1888, stopping first in Chicago. She was a well read woman, giving readings from Bohemian literature. (Milligan, p 199). She had a brother named Tom Andel, and several half siblings, John, Josefa, Jim and Frank Fujan and Mary Kaderabek. Her half-sister, Josefa, married her brother-in-law, Frank Bernasek. (Milligan, p 201). The name of her parents, as reported on her marriage license, were Jim Urbanek and Mary Zekes. Robert Nohavec instead shows them as Vaclav ANDEL and Marie ZISKOVA. The supplementary Milligan History book, 1988-2008, lists them as Vaclav Andel and Marie Ziska.

During World War I, ladies in the Milligan area knit warm clothing for the soldier boys through the Red Cross. Marie was a champion knitter. She received letters from soldiers stationed at Fort Omaha thanking her for the socks. They had found her name in the socks. (Milligan, p 200)

Marie took her life on May 12, 1922, at the age of 52 years. (Milligan, p 200)

Notes:

Married:
They were married at the Courthouse in Geneva by the county judge. Witnesses were J.L Honchin and J.J. Dempster. The Fillmore Weekly Chronicle newspaper described the couple as lavishly decorated with roses and pink ribbons, closely followed by an elderly pair. They made their home in Glengary and Chelsea Townships. (Milligan, pp 199 - 200)

Frank married Anna Pribyl about 1897. Anna was born before 1877; died on 11 Jul 1958 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 and Marie Pribyl. After Frank passed away, she continued to farm with four of her children. She moved into a house in Milligan in 1940. She enjoyed doing much fancy work and raising a large garden (Milligan, p 275).

Notes:

Married:
After their marriage, they lived on a farm in the NE 1/4 of Section 22 in Glengary Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska. (Milligan, p 275).

Notes:

"Josef Bernasek was born in the village of Prodeslady, town of Kravovice, county of Plzen in Bohemia on June 20, 1831.

His death certificate lists his parents as Ondrej Bernasek and Katherine Vcela. He was married in Bohemia to Josefa Urbanek. He came to the Milligan area from Europe twice, his name being first recorded in a book of Homestead records at the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln as filing a claim to 80 acres in Section 10 of Glengary Township on October 17, 1870. John Bernasek cliamed 80 acres in the same quarter on the same day. Vaclav Bernasek, a son of John's, recived the patent on the farm Joseph Bernasek claimed. It is not definately known how John and Joseph were related. They could have been brothers. MILLIGAN NEBRASKA 1988-2008 indicates that the claim for 80 acres in section 10 used a 3 letter abbreviation for his first name, probably read as JOS. for Joseph, but may have actually been Jas. for James, with his given name actually being VACLAV. The patent on that land would later go to Vaclav Bernasek. (p. 113).

Josef and Josefa and their three children, Frank 16, Cyril 13 and Marie 10 came to the United States a second time on the Steamship "Zoffie," leaving Hamburg, Germany on March 20, 1879 and docking in the New York Port on Good Friday April 10, 1879. Daughters Emilye, Marie, Frantiska, Josefa and Kristina died of diptheria in Bohemia. This is possibly why Joseph did not prove the homestead. He may have received word from Bohemia of the illness of his daughters, and returned for sometime with his wife and children before returning to the United States. When the family returned, they migrated to the homestead of John Bernasek (assumed to be his brother by this compiler) where they lived until they were able to move to their farm. Joseph contracted 80 acres, the E 1/2 NE 1/4 of Section 21 in Glengary Township on July 1, 1879, with the Burlinton and Missouri River Railroad Company. He received the deed on October 3, 1889. The farm was given to his son, Frank, on July 11, 1895. It is still in the Bernasek family, owned by Ervin and Carol Bernasek. Joseph and oldest son Frank went to Geneva on July 3, 1879 to file their naturalization papers. Joseph was sworn in as a citizen on Mary 31, 1887.

Joseph contracted another 80 acres, the E 1/2 NE 1/4 of Section 17 in Glengary Township on October 24, 1879, with the Burlington and Missouri. This contract was made for 10 years at $5.50 an acre. Joseph received the deed on July 9, 1887 from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. This farm was given to his son Cyril. (Milligan, p 202). He made a stipulation that Cyril must give his parents one-third of the crops raised and a comfortable room in the house. Cyril and his wife sold the farm to Frank Kassik on April 30, 1908 for $7,600. (Milligan, p 199)

Joseph met with a fatal accident on July 17, 1906, at age 75. He and his wife were riding in a buggy when the horses were frightened by a pile of manure at the stockyards on the south end of the city limits. Joseph was thrown from buggy, killed almost instantly. Josephine was also thrown, but escaped with a few bruises. The funeral was conducted from the Catholic Church. (Milligan, p 202).

[Note: Ken Chromy instead has his location of birth as Babina (Plasy), Bohemia.]

(Research):

Census Listings:

FamilySearch 1880 National Census

Census Place:Glengary, Fillmore, Nebraska
Source:FHL Film 1254748 National Archives Film T9-0748 Page 51 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Joseph BENNESEK Self M M W 52 BOHEMIA Occ:Farmer Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Josefine BENNESEK Wife F M W 51 BOHEMIA Occ:House Keepe rFa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Cirrall BENNESEK Son M S W 15 BOHEMIA Occ:At Schoo lFa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mary BENNESEK Dau F S W 12 BOHEMIA Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA

Josef + Josefa Urbankova. Josefa was born on 16 May 1831 in Bohy, Plzen-Sever, Plzensk? Kraj, Bohemia; died on 25 Apr 1914 in Atlanta Township, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried on 26 Apr 1914 in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

After her husband's death, Josephine made her home on the farm with a grandson, Cyril Bernasek. When she became ill, she went to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Vaclav Koca in Atlanta Township of Saline County. She died at the Koca home on April 25, 1914, at the age of 83. A "Card of Thanks" in the Milligan Times expresses the family's thanks to Charles Smrha for the impressive speech at the mourners home and cemetery, to Messrs. Frank Hrdy, Charles Smrha and Norbert Svatos for the beautiful song service, to Vaclav Koca for the religious ceremony, the undertakers Frank Rozanek and Joe Matejovsky for last service rendered, and to Mrs. Josephine Rohla for loving service in time of sickness and comfort in the final hours. (Milligan, p 202). Ken Chromy shows she was a daugheter of J. DUSKOVA and Mr. URBANEK, and that she was born in Bohy.

Vaclav married Marie Ziskova about 1868 in Bohemia. Marie was born about 1839 in Slatina, Kralovice, Bohemia; died before 1922 in Bohemia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Frantisek Fujan was the son of Matej and Veronika (Levova) Fujan. He immigrated to the United States in the late 1860's (sic) to join his brother Vaclav in Prague, Nebraska. He and his wife Marie moved to Milligan in 1893, where they farmed. (Milligan, p 275).

(Research):Census Listings:

1880 Census
US Federal 1880 Census

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace O
ccupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Frank FUYAN Self M Male W 48 BOHEMIA Farmer BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Mary FUYAN Wife M Female W 43 BOHEMIA Keeps House BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Joseph FUYAN Son S Male W 25 BOHEMIA Farms At Home BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Vencel FUYAN Son S Male W 19 BOHEMIA At Home BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Anna FUYAN Dau S Female W 17 BOHEMIA At Home BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Frank FUYAN Son S Male W 12 BOHEMIA BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Francis FUYAN Dau S Female W 9 BOHEMIA BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Anton FUYAN Son S Male W 7 BOHEMIA BOHEMIA BOHEMIA
Josey FUYAN Dau S Female W 5 BOHEMIA BOHEMIA BOHEMIA

Source Information:
Census Place Elk, Saunders, Nebraska
Family History Library Film 1254755
NA Film Number T9-0755
Page Number 304C

Frantisek married Marie Koziskova on 23 Nov 1852 in Bohemia. Marie was born about 1836 in Bohemia; died on 1 Nov 1914 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Daughter of Antonin Koziska/Kozisek.