FAMILY STORIES

ical Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin 22 April 1866. Her parents came to Nebraska ca 1868-70.

Dist. No. 110, Memphis, 1921 or 1922. Top Row, Standing L. to R.: Oliver Wilson, Vega Williamson, Lyla Johnson, teacher Ella Johnston, Paul Tanner, ?, ?, Raleigh Owen, and Harley Wood; Middle Row, L. to R.: Laverne Wood, Margaret DeFoil, ?, ?, ?, Gladys Smith, Evelyn Rudiger, Bessie Grauerholz, Helen Johnson, Lail Williams, Doris Oswalt, and Ruth Johnson; Bottom Row, L. to R.: ?, Edwin Williamson, Fred DeFoil, ?, George Grauerholz, Lamar Converse, Ellis Converse, Frances Wing, ?, ?, and ?.

   John and Rosa Snyder settled in Saunders County, Nebraska shortly after their marriage. At first they rented near Colon, and later, owned 80 acres about four miles east of Colon. In about 1896, they removed to Waco Township, York County, Nebraska. John became a citizen of the United States in York County on 12 June 1905. John died 7 June 1945 at York, York County, Nebraska at the age of 92 years, 11 months and 11 days. Rosa died on 28 March 1957 at York and both are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in York. Their children:

   1. Agnes Dorthea Anna Snyder, b. 16 Sept. 1883 at Saunders County, Nebraska, near Colon. Married John Carsten Stuhr on 19 February 1903 at Waco, Nebraska; died 3 January 1983 at York, York Co., Nebraska; buried at Waco Cemetery, Waco, Waco County, Nebraska.

   2. George Frederick Snyder, b. 23 October 1885, at Saunders County, Nebraska; died 8 July 1978 at Alliance, Box Butte County, Nebraska; buried 12 July 1978 at Greenwood Cemetery in York, Nebraska; married Anna Louise Barth on 12 Jan. 1910.

   3. John Julius Martin Snyder, b. 22 December 1887 near Colon in Saunders County; moved with his parents to York ca 1896 and married Helen Martha Lehmkuhl in Waco on 8 Nov. 1914; died 22 December 1960 at York, Nebraska. Buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

   4. Louise Magdelene Snyder, b. 3 Sept. 1981 in Nebraska married Carl William Frederick Barth 17 January 1912; still living.

   5. Elsie Elizabeth Snyder, b. 5 Sept. 1896 near Waco, Nebraska married 26 February 1922 in Waco to Curtis Leander Foreman; died 28 Sept. 1972 at York, Nebraska; buried in Waco.

   6. Lorna Rosalie Snyder, b. 11 June 1898 in York County, Nebraska, near Waco; married Henry W. Stockhaus 11 Sept. 1924 at Cleveland, Ohio; died 22 August 1950 at Denver; buried in Crown Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

   Bessie Christensen was born north of Wahoo on March 19, 1893, and was the daughter of Hans Christensen and Louisa Perry Christensen. She was the 8th of 9 children. They were Hubert (died in infancy), Nellie (Mrs. Arthur Watson), Mary (Mrs. Chas. Peterson), Clara (Mrs. Oliver Scow), Oliver Fred (called Fred), Ann (Mrs. Ed Scow), Arthur (died in infancy), Bessie (Mrs. Alfred Sorenson) and Ernest.

Alfred, Bessie, and Marjorie Sorenson

   Bessie attended District 70 and graduated from Wahoo High School in 1911. She taught school near Colon and later went home to help her parents.

   Alfred Sorenson was born west of Malmo on September 30, 1887. His parents were Andrew Sorenson and Isabelle Scow Sorenson. He was the sixth of seven children. They were Addie, Addak, Herman and Selma (all died in childhood), Selma (Mrs. Albert Peterson), Alfred and Herman (lived to adulthood).

   Alfred attended Districts 24 and 85. He farmed, and later, had the Sorenson Brothers Store in Malmo with his brother, Herman. It burned in the spring of 1928. Later, he farmed again.

   Alfred and Bessie were married Jan. 23, 1924 at Shelby, Nebraska, and spent the rest of that winter in California. They had one daughter, Marjorie Louise, born September 15, 1928. Alfred passed away in 1963. Bessie lives with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Duane Lindgren.

   Alvin Emanuel Soukup, son of Anton E. and Eleanor Novak Soukup, was born May 7, 1919. Matilda Adeline Beranek, daughter of Charles Sr. and Fanny Pallas Beranek, was born December 4, 1919. They married March 5, 1941, and had seven children: Charles Anton -- September 6, 1941; Robert Raymond -- March 20, 1943; Donald Dean -- April 27, 1944; Darlene Kay -- September 14, 1947; Joyce Ann -- April 19, 1953: Janice Marie -- June 19, 1956; and Richard Lee -- June 26, 1959. They farmed two miles southeast of Morse Bluff. The children attended District #14, Morse Bluff, the same school Alvin and Matilda graduated from. All seven children graduated from North Bend High School.

Alvin Soukup Family. Left to Right: Richard, Janice, Joyce, Darline, Matilda, Robert, Alvin, Charles and Donald; Seated: Fanny Beranek.

   Alvin and Matilda grew up together, living only 1½ miles apart, and lived all their lives within three miles of Morse Bluff. In December, 1965, they moved to Morse Bluff and Alvin went to work for Blevins Popcorn.

   Charles works for Abel Construction, Lincoln as a Civil Engineer. He obtained his degree at the University Nebraska-Lincoln after serving three years in the Army. He married Delores Ann Scott. They have two daughters, Leah Ann and Kayl Renee. Charles and Ann enjoy spending leisure time at their cabin near Fremont and attending N.U. football games.

   Robert married Anne Christine Nemec. Their children are Cheryl Anne, Cynthia Lynn and Robert Alvin. Bob is a Journeyman Lineman with OPPD, North Bend, and is running for Mayor of North Bend. Robert enjoys hunting, fishing and collecting antique furniture.

   Donald graduated from Wayne State. He married Diane Massman and works as an Insurance Underwriter for State Farm at San Jose, California. He enjoys backpacking, water skiing and sailing his 25-ft. sailboat.

   Darlene and Dr. LeMoyne Johnson live at Bradenton, Florida with daughter, Melanie Lynn. Darlene is a nurse and accompanied her grandmother, Fanny Beranek, to Fanny's birthplace in Czechoslovakia in 1967. Darlene's hobbies are scuba diving, sewing and teaching classes in stained glass.

   Joyce attended Wayne State and married Michael Irwin Nelson, a State Highway Patrolman stationed at North Platte. Their children are Melissa Jane, Jill Marie and Eric Michael. Joyce worked as an instrumental aide for communicative disorders in the Lincoln Schools, and enjoys gardening and sewing.

   Janice attended Nancy Bounds Modeling School and won the 1975 Model of the Year Contest. She lives in New York City and models in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and the U.S.A. Jan enjoys sewing her own clothes.

   Richard married Carla Kay Dolezal and they have a son, Jared Lee. After high school, Richard was in the Air Force where he got his civilian pilot's license. Then he transferred to the National Guard Reserves. He will graduate from Wayne State in December, 1982, and then will return to the Air Force officer's training so he can get pilot's training.

   Alvin retired in 1982 and enjoys fishing and helping his nephews farm. Matilda worked at Birchwood Manor nursing home, North Bend, for ten years. She took art classes, learning painting and scratch work. She has sewn gowns for her daughters' wedding attendants and some of Janice's modeling gowns. Submitted by Matilda Soukup

    Anton Frank Soukup was born March 17, 1921 at Morse Bluff, Nebraska to Anton E. and Eleanor (Novak) Soukup. He spent all his life in Saunders County, except during WWII, when he served four

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Anton Soukup Family. Back Row, L. to R.: Scott, Russell, Tony; Front Row: Jerry, Gladys, Anton, Janel and Jack.

years in the China-Burma area. After the war he farmed in the community. He was a member and a post and county commander of the American Legion Post #340, Morse Bluff; the ZCBJ Lodge, the Morse Bluff Fire Department; and the VFW Post of North Bend. The last few years he was the plant supervisor of Blevins Popcorn Co. of North Bend.

   He married Gladys Rezac, daughter of Leonard A. and Mary (Kucera) Rezac of Linwood, Nebraska on Oct. 5, 1946. Gladys taught school in Colfax County. She also has been the dietary supervisor of Birchwood Manor Nursing Home, North Bend the past seventeen years.

   To this union were born six children. Anton Leonard was born Oct. 8, 1948. Jack Alan was born Dec. 21, 1952 and married Nancy Shavlik of Linwood on April 26, 1980. Thomas Scott, born Nov. 13, 1953, married Susan Jurgens of North Bend on Aug. 11, 1972. They have two children, Todd and Stacy. Jerry Kevin, born Nov. 3, 1954, married Barbara Wadzinski of Dodge, Nebraska on June 9, 1979. His twin, Janel Katherine, married Michael Harnan of Columbus, Nebr. on Dec. 28, 1974. The last child, Russell Todd, born July 10, 1957, married Sandy Wobig of Fremont on Oct. 11, 1980.

   Anton F. Soukup had open heart surgery April 1, 1975 for an aortic valve replacement. After recovery he still enjoyed farming and being a supervisor of Belvins Popcorn Plant. He died Sept. 8, 1981. He was buried at Killian Cemetery, Morse Bluff. His mother preceded him in death on April 15, 1941. His father and father-in-law, A.E. Soukup and Leonard A. Rezac, died Oct. 26, 1981. All burials were at Killian Hill Cemetery.

   Edward John Sousek was born on a farm east of Prague, Nebraska to Joseph and Josephine (Mach) Sousek. At the age of two years, he moved with his parents and sister to the farm near Morse Bluff, Nebraska on which he still resides. He attended District No. 79 elementary school, the building now being the home of the American Legion Post No. 340. Edward has a permanent membership of this Post. He graduated from Cedar Bluffs High School. He is a veteran of World War II, having served 22 months with the army, 16 months of which were spent in the Pacific, namely Hawaii and Japan. Edward is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3736 of North Bend, Nebraska, and a member of the Morse Bluff Rural Fire Protection Board.

Edward and Edith Sousek

   Edith I. Ostry was born on a farm west of Prague to Louis C. and Lydia (Humlicek) Ostry. I attended St. John's Parochial School and graduated from Prague High School. I'm a member of the DCCW, the Catholic Workman Branch No. 55, and the Country Gals Club.

   Edward and I were married April 29, 1952 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Prague. We are members of a country parish, the Sacred Heart Church of Cedar Hill near Morse Bluff, Nebraska of which Edward was a member most of his life. We operate a Grade A dairy farm and are members of Mid-America Dairymen, Inc. We were honored as the Conservation Farm Family for 1966 by the Saunders Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors. Submitted by Edith I. Sousek

   Frank E. Sousek, son of Frank J. and Anna (Vanek) Sousek, was born on a farm southwest of Prague, Nebraska. He attended Rural School District 84 and Prague High School, after which he farmed with his father and brothers. I was born on a farm west of Prague; my parents were Louis and Lydia (Humlicek) Ostry. I attended St. John's Parochial School and Prague High School. After completing a Teachers' Course at Midland College, Fremont, Nebr., I taught Saunders County rural schools for three years. We were married in 1950, and moved to a farm northwest of Prague which was purchased from the late Mike and John Placek.

Front Row, L to R.: Patricia (Sousek) Fujan, Angela (Ostry) Sousek, Frank E. Sousek, Mary Ann (Sousek) Paseka; Back Row: Marvin, Carl, David, and Fred Sousek.

   We are the parents of six children. They all attend St. John's School and Prague High School. They were active in the School Band, FFA, FHA, Sports and Pep Club.

   Patricia and her husband, Dennis Fujan, live on a farm west of Plasi, Nebraska. They have two daughters: Rebecca, 9 and Erin, 3. Before their marriage Pat was employed at Platte Valley Foods, and later, at Hellstar in Wahoo, Ne.

   Marvin married Debra Schuetz of North Bend, Nebr. They also have two daughters; Lisa, 6 and Sarah, 19 months. Marvin attended Southeast Community College at Milford, Nebr. and completed a course in Auto Mechanics. At present he is a Certified Mechanic at North Platte, Nebr. where they reside.

   Frederick and his wife, the former Sharon Janacek of Prague, are the parents of one daughter, Heather, 2. Fred attended the Grand Island School of Business, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is presently employed as an accountant for Peter Kiewet Sons, Inc. in Omaha, Nebr.

   David married Carol Vanek of Prague. They have two daughters; Amanda, 2 and Melissa, 3 months. David was a Charter Member of the Prague FFA and was Parliamentarian of the Prague Chapter during his senior year of high school. They are living on a farm west of Prague.

   Mary Ann and Robert Paseka of Prague were married this spring (1982). They are living in Prague; Bob farms with his brother in the Prague area. Before their marriage, Mary Ann was employed as a cashier at DuTeau Chevrolet in Lincoln after graduating from high school.

   Carl is farming with his father and brother, David. He was active in 4-H for nine years and in the FFA of which he was President of the Chapter during his senior year. Carl received many awards, including the Star Chapter Farmer, Outstanding Chapter Member, the State Farmer Degree, and also Outstanding Young Pork Producer. He also attended the National FFA Conventions in Kansas City, Missouri and the Conference Program in Washington, D.C. Carl was an altar boy for many years, as were his brothers, and is a lector at St. John's.

   We attended St. John's Catholic Church, Prague, where Frank is also a lector and has served as Parish Trustee. At present he is on the Building Committee for the new church, Parish Council, and St. John's Cemetery Board. I am a member of St. John's PCCW of which I held the offices of Secretary and President. At present I am Treasurer of the St. John's Rosary Altar Society.

   Frank is also President of the Prague Cooperative Store Board, Vice President of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Co., Prague, and Treasurer of Chester Township.

   He also served on the Board of Directors of the Saunders Co. Coop Oil Assn. for six years and on the Township ASC Committee for many years. Submitted by Angela (Ostry) Sousek

   I returned to Nebraska in the summer of 1972, after serving 4 years in the Navy. My ambition was to farm as my great-grandfather, grandfather and father had done in years past.

James D., Donald, Jeff, and Roberta Sousek

   On October 6, 1973, I married Roberta Pojar and started our life together on the farm that had been in our family for over 90 years. We were married at St. Charles Catholic Church in North Bend, Nebraska. My wife was born and raised in Dodge County, Nebraska. Our family now consists of two sons: Jeff, who is eight, and Donald, who is four.

   Three of the first five years of farming were less than average crop years. To supplement the income, I worked two years at Tomsicek Manufacturing Company at Ithaca as a welder. The first six sows farrowed on our farm averaged 11.2 pigs per litter; I have not seen this high average since.

   I began photography as a hobby while in the Navy. It has now become a part-time business along with my farming.

   Our family belongs to SS. Cyril and Methodius Church at Plasi, where I have been a parishioner all my life. When SS. Cyril and Methodius had its

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