George Kasl, Sr

Family/Spouse: Emma Rezabek. Emma was born on 28 Nov 1894 in Nebraska; died on 1 Jun 1978 in Fairview Cemetery, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In Memory Of Dorothy Kotas

Dorothy Emily Kotas was born on a farm south of Dorchester, Nebraska, near Tabor Hall, on December 20, 1925 to George Sr. and Emma (Rezabek) Kasl, the fifth of nine children and passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at the Friend Manor in Friend, Nebraska at the age of 86 years 1 month and 12 days. As a young girl she attended country school one mile north of Tabor Hall and later walked from near Tabor Hall to Dorchester to attend high school through the 10th grade. Dorothy then had to stay at home and help with the family and farm chores. For a time during WWII she was employed breaking eggs at the Fairmont Creamery in Crete. She met the love of her life, Lumir Thomas Kotas while attended ZCBJ lodge events and they were united in marriage on February 24, 1948 at the courthouse in Wilber. To this union four children, Lumir J., Ellen, Gary and Allen were born. Together they lived on area farms, later purchasing the home place near Saline Center where they made their home and resided for 57 years. She was a busy homemaker, a great cook, and was a true farm wife and willing helper to her husband with the farm chores. She had a great heart and willingly was a supporter to anyone in need. She spent many hours as kitchen chairman at Saline Center for many years. In 2006, Dorothy moved to the Friend Manor. She was a former member of Tabor Hall ZCBJ #74 and after her marriage to Lumir she transferred her membership to Saline Center Lodge WFLA #389.

Dorothy is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Lumir J. and Mary Ann Kotas, Friend, Allen and Judy Kotas, Milligan, 10 grandchildren and spouses, Bobby and Shannon Kotas, Omaha, Jason and Sheena Kotas, Beatrice, Becky and Jaimie Degon, Dorchester, Jessica and Cliff Forsythe, Omaha, Brenda and Abram Hotz, Monroe, SD, Eric and Casey Kotas, Western, Jenna Kotas, Omaha, Christine and Michael Simmons, Carterville, IL, Kenny and Christine Wright, Montana, and Amy and Michael Cobb, Sinclair, WY, 29 great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law, Ed Kasl, Wilber, Robert and Marva Kasl, George Jr. and Shirley Kasl, Richard and Shirley Kasl, Evelyn Kasl, all of Dorchester, sisters and brothers-in-law, Evelyn Branzovsky, Fremont, Helen Halada, Lincoln, Gladys and Warren Burda, Wilber, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Irene Hartman, Davenport, Edna and Frank Musil, Florence, AZ, Joann Kotas, Wilber, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Lumir in 2007, infant daughter, Ellen in 1951, son, Gary in 1981, great-granddaughter, Adeline Hotz, brother, Frank Kasl, sisters-in-law, Rosella Kasl and Darlene Kasl, brothers-in-law, Elmer Branzovsky, Ed Halada, Joie Kotas, LeRoy Becwar, Vern Hartman, and a daughter-in-law, Gail Kotas. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 2012 at Saline Center, rural Western, with Pastors Roger Wolfe and Dan Williams officiating. Joann Kotas will give the lodge remembrances. Interment will be in the Wilber Czech Cemetery, Wilber. Visitation will be on Thursday from 1-8 pm with the family greeting relatives and friend from 6-8 pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend. Memorials are directed in care of the family for later designation. Pallbearers are Eric Kotas, Bobby Kotas, Frankie Kasl, George Kasl III, Marvin Kasl, Bradley Kasl. Honorary Pallbearers are Elmer Jo Branzovsky, Eddie Kasl, Larry Burda, Eldon Kasl, Jason Kotas, Abram Hotz, and Jaimie Degon.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, copied from the Lauber-Moore Funeral Home)

The obituary of her sister, Evelyn Branzovsky, was published in the 6 March 2012 Lincoln Journal Star, as shown below:

Evelyn Branzovsky, 93, of Fremont, formerly of Wilber, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2012. Born June 1, 1918 to George Kasl Sr. and Emma (Rezabek) Kasl.
Survivors: son and daughter in law, Elmer and Charlotte of Fremont. Grandchildren, Bobbie Jo and Bill Stice of Sun Valley, Ariz., Cody Branzovsky of Omaha. Step grandchildren, Terry and Chris Wolfe of Snyder, Kim Bosak of Columbus, Brenda and Gary Nutelmann of Columbus, Michelle and Adam Griger of Fremont. 20 great grandchildren. 13 great great grandchildren. Sisters and brother in law, Helen Halada of Lincoln, Gladys and Warren Burda of Wilber. Brothers and sisters in law, Ed Kasl of Wilber, Bob and Marva Kasl, George, Jr. and Shirley Kasl, Richard and Shirley Kasl, all of Dorchester. Sister in law, Evelyn Kasl of Dorchester. Nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer; brother, Frank Kasl; sister, Dorothy Kotas; sisters in law, Rosella Kasl and Darlene Kasl; brothers in law, Lumir Kotas and Ed Halada.
Funeral services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Kuncl Funeral Home in Wibler with Rev. Roger Wolfe officiating. Interment: Wilber Czech Cemetery. Memorials in care of the family for future designation. Arrangements by Kuncl Funeral Home.

Dorothy married Lumir Thomas Kotas on 24 Feb 1948 in Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. Lumir (son of Joe Albert Kotas and Julia J. Brejcha) was born on 3 Jul 1928 in Nebraska; died on 16 Dec 2007 in Nebraska; was buried in Wilber Czech Cemetery (Bohemian-Slavonian Cemetery), Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George Franklin "Junior" Kasl, Jr. of Dorchester, Nebraska went to his heavenly home on April 9, 2023 at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln, at the age of 89 years, and nine months.

He was born on the family farm near Tabor Hall on July 9, 1933, the eighth of nine children, to George Sr. and Emma (Rezabek) Kasl. Jr. attended Mount Pleasant Country School, District 62, followed by a year at Dorchester High School. He then decided to leave school to help on the family farm. Jr. served in the Army National Guard for nine years, and during that time he met the love of his life, Shirley, at a dance at Tabor Hall.

He was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Ripa on June 12, 1956, and they made their home on the Kasl family home place where Jr. had grown up. They enjoyed their lives on the farm and stayed busy raising hogs, sheep, chickens, and cattle. They loved kids and spent many summers hosting their nieces and nephews on the farm. After 15 years of marriage, they were blessed with their only son, George F. Kasl, III, or "Georgie" as he was affectionately called. He was the absolute light of their lives and Jr. was so proud to take him along wherever he went and show him off to everyone. Nothing gave him more pleasure than being a dad. He loved spending time with Georgie throughout his years in Boy Scouts, and was a Scout leader part of that time as well. When Georgie got interested in showing cattle, Jr. found himself with a new hobby, too, as he spent many hours going to cattle shows and sales, and later on taking loads to Columbus for embryo transfers or to the sale barn. He enjoyed helping with the cattle chores around the farm, and could always be found puttering around and "fixing fence." That pride and love extended to his grandchildren when they came along, and he and Shirley rarely missed any of the kids' events. They were incredibly supportive with each and every one of their granddaughters' activities, whether it was sports, music concerts, dance or showing animals in 4-H. He was very proud that he and Shirley received the 2022 Friends of 4-H award for the many years of supporting their family and the youth of Saline County.

Besides his family, Jr.'s one true love was farming, and he was a Northrup King seed dealer for many years. He especially loved his wheat and milo, and enjoyed sowing his wheat the most. He was always concerned about the weather, and enjoyed watching the weather channel and listening to the markets and the weather on KRVN (even though the station is over 2 hours away!). Even after retiring from farming, he always wanted to drive around and check the fields to see how the crops were coming along. Having to give up driving himself around was especially difficult, but his family and neighbors made sure he still got to experience planting and harvest as much as possible. Jr. was very proud to be a member of August-Vanek Legion Post #264. He enjoyed attending Legion meetings and helping with the various activities, and was honored to be presented with a Quilt of Valor in March 2022. He was also very active throughout the years at WFLA Tabor Lodge #74 and had received his 50 year pin. He loved both attending and helping at dances at the hall. He was proud of his Czech heritage and loved listening to polkas, and maybe enjoying a pivo or two, especially with tomato juice. On Saturday nights, he could be found watching Mollie B., and rarely missed listening to the All Star Polka show on Sunday mornings. He always looked forward to Czech Days, and getting his annual pin was a must. Jr. also found a special friend in his cat, Blackie, and the two of them enjoyed each other's company tremendously.

Jr. is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Shirley; his son and daughter in law, George, III and Jenni Kasl; granddaughters, Emma Kasl and special friend, Landon Scott; Cassidy Olson and special friend Brandon Bruha; Quinn Kasl and Kendall Kasl; great-granddaughters, Aleah Wendelin and Emerson Scott; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob and Marva Kasl; Rich and Shirley Kasl; and Evelyn Kasl, all of Dorchester; brother-in-law, Kenny Ripa, Wilber; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives.

Jr. was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Victor and Emma Ripa; sisters and brothers-in-law, Evelyn and Elmer Branzovsky; Helen and Edward Halada; Dorothy and Lumir Kotas; Gladys & Warren Burda; brothers and sisters-in-law Ed and Rosella Kasl; Frank Kasl; Darlene Kasl; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Dorchester United Methodist Church. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 - 8 PM at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Memorials are in care of the family for future designation. Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)