Donald E. Kuska

Notes:

Donald E. Kuska, 97, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa died on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Trinity Bettendorf.

A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Asbury United Methodist Church of Bettendorf where he was a longtime and faithful member. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Monday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf where a Masonic service will be conducted at 7:00 P.M. Additional visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 14, 2011 at the Farmer Funeral Home in Milligan, Nebraska. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 A.M. at the Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan. Memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, the Iowa Masonic Health Facility of Bettendorf or the family for the great-grandchildren's education.

He was born June 12, 1915 in Fillmore County, Nebraska, the son of Emil Anton & Katherine (Becwar) Kuska and was a graduate of the University of Nebraska. On June 1, 1940, he was united in marriage to Camille M. Conger in Lincoln, Nebraska. She preceded him in death on July 15, 2009.

Don was employed as an engineer for the J.I. Case Company of Bettendorf from 1971 until his retirement in 1983. In earlier years, he was the Chief Engineer for the Oliver Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1950 to 1971.

In addition to the church, he was a member of Hamilton Masonic Lodge, #664 of Bettendorf, the Davenport Scottish Rite, the Hi-Twelve Club where he was past-president, the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Society of Agricultural engineers where he received an award for 75 years of membership.

Those left to honor his memory include his daughter, Cindy Buchman of Bettendorf; his grandchildren, Dominick Marcott, Danielle (Brian) Temple, Aaron (Heather) Buchman and Jennifer Buchman; his great-grandchildren, Adelynn & Avery Temple, Charlie Camille Buchman and Kira & Maximus Marcott; along with other relatives and many wonderful friends. In addition to his wife, Don was preceded in death by his daughter, Sherry Potenzo in 1990 and his brothers, Melvin & William.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Donald married Camille M. Conger on 1 Jun 1940 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. Camille was born on 19 Jun 1917 in Cody, Park County, Wyoming; died on 15 Jul 2009 in Bettendorf, Scott County, Iowa; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Nebraska, Fillmore County, Liberty Twp
ED 30-21 SD 11 Sheet 1B
18-18
Kuska, Emil A Head M W 49 M 30 NE Czech Czach Farmer
Kuska, Katherine Wf F W 38 M 21 Neb Czech Czech
Kuska, Donald Son M W 14 S Neb Neb Neb
Kuska, William Son M W 12 S Neb Neb Neb
Kuska, Melvin Son M W 10 S Neb Neb Neb

Emil married Katherine Becwar on 14 Feb 1912. Katherine (daughter of Anton Becwar and Marie "Mary" Bures) was born on 11 Nov 1890 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 8 Jan 1988 in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Nebraska, Fillmore County, Madison Twp
Enumerated 8 Jun 1900
SD 4 Ed 30 Sheet 4B
43-43
Becwar, Anton Head W M Jun 1861 38 M 17 Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1869 Farmer
Becwar, Mary Wf W F Mar 1859 41 M 17 10/7 Bohemia Bohemia
Becwar, Tina Dtr W F Oct 1884 15 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia At School
Becwar, Charley Son W M Jan 1889 11 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia Farm Laborer
Becwar, Katie Dtr F W Nov 1890 10 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia
Becwar, Annie Dtr W F Aug 1892 7 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia
Becwar, Tonett Son (???) W M Dec 1893 Neb Bohemia Bohemia***
Becwar, Josis Dtr W F Mar 1896 4 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia
Becwar, Mary Dtr W F May 1900 1/12 S Neb Bohemia Bohemia

***Might this be daughter Antonia?

Anton married Marie "Mary" Bures on 27 Nov 1883. Marie (daughter of Frantisek "Frank" Bures and Mary Kroupa) was born on 25 Apr 1860 in Bohemia; died on 9 Oct 1933 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
After their marriage, Anton and Marie moved into a new frame house on the parents' farmstead. In 1895 they bought the SW 1/4 of Section 23 in Madison Township for $10,000. It ws a very modern farmstead for its day, the barn, corncrib and hog house still stand. The couple had two children that died as infants, both of whom are buried in the Kasak Cemetery. After two of their school age children, Anna and Charles died on the same day due to contracting diptheria from eating creek ice, Anton sold the farm to Joe Domling. He did not want to live there any longer. The family then bought the NW 1/4 of Section 19 in Liberty Township, living there for the rest of their lives. (Milligan, p 193).

Notes:

Frantisek Becvar, born in 1829 in Nezamslice, Strakomie Pisceky, Bohemia was naturalized in Fillmore County, May 18, 1875. He died August 15, 1900, and is buried in the Ceski Bratri Cemetery. His first wife, Marie Hubac Becvar, died in Czechoslovakia. His second wife, Mary Zdenek, was born March 25, 1836, and died November 1, 1924, and is buried in the Ceski Bratri Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Becwar migrated to the US by sailing ship in 1868. They came from the east by train to Lincoln, Nebraska. There they hired a wagon and drive to take them to the Kral homestead north of Milligan. After paying the driver, they had 75 cents left.

The Becwar's homesteaded the 80 acres just west of the Krals, which would be W 1/2 SE 1/4 of Section 26, Liberty Precinct. Frank received the patent on February 20, 1877. They made a dug-out using an animal hide to cover the doorway. Frank was a cabinent maker, and walked 25 miles to Pleasant Hill to work, staying there all week, and walking home again on the weekends. The work involved building the William Smith Flour Mill. On his first trip home, he carried enough lumber to make themselves a proper door.

Life in the dugout was quite primative. It was hard to heat, and invited snakes. They ground corn with stones, and used a plentiful weed to make tea. Mr. Becwar would also shot prarie chickens on his way home for meat. Indians came through occasionally begging for food. Rustlers were also a problem. One night their cow was stolen, but it got away and came back home to be with its calf.

Mr. Becwar worked for the Burlington and Missouri Railroad in 1870 and 1871. He bought the SW 1/4 of Section 23 from them. This was handed down to Mike Becwar, Sr. and then Mike Becwar, Jr. At present the Kuska's own this land.

The Becwar daughters married and moved away. Agnes and Josephine moved to Kansas, Barbara to Nelson, Nebraska, Mary to Sunol, Nebraska. However, sons Mike and Anton stayed in Fillmore County. (Milligan, p 194).

NOTE: As the death date of Marie Hubac, as well as the date of the marriage of Frank and Mary Zdenak is unknown, the mother of his children can not be positevely identified until such a time as these questions are answered. Additionally, the biography of oldest son Anton notes that his mother was Mary Versek. For the time being, Mary Zdenak is being listed as the mother of Frank's six children, but this is subject to change.


(Research):Census Information:

FamilySearch 1880 Census
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Frank BECWAR Self M M W 50 BOHEMIA Occ:Farmer Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mary BECWAR Wife F M W 43 BOHEMIA Occ:Keeping House Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Anton BECWAR Son M S W 19 BOHEMIA Occ:Farming Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Agnes BECWAR Dau F S W 15 BOHEMIA Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Josephine BECWAR Dau F S W 11 NE Occ:At School Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mathew BECWAR Son M S W 7 NE Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Barbara BECWAR Dau F S W 5 NE Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA
Mary BECWAR Dau F S W 1 NE Fa: BOHEMIA Mo: BOHEMIA

Census Place:Liberty, Fillmore, Nebraska
Source:FHL Film 1254748 National Archives Film T9-0748
Page 49

Frantisek married Marie Zdenek. Marie was born on 25 Mar 1836 in Bohemia; died on 1 Nov 1924 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Frank was married twice. He had seven children by his first wife, Mary Kroupa, and married a second time to Josefa Marc. Frank and Josefa, along with his children from his first marriage, came to America in 1881. They purchased the NW 1/4 of Section 29 in Liberty Township from William Hart for $1600 on June 28, 1881. The Kansas City and Omaha Railroad Company purchased a strip of land 100 feet wide through the northeast corner of this quarter on March 28, 1887, paying them $142. The railroad was built on this strip from McCool Junction to Fairbury.

Frank Bures had a brother, Vaclav, and three sisters who came to America. Marie who was married to Victor HRANAC; Anna, who was married to Frank KUCERA, and after his death she married Matej VOTIPKA and Josie, who was married to John BARNAS, and after his death to Frank PROKOP.

(Milligan, p 220).

Frantisek married Mary Kroupa before 1860 in Bohemia. Mary was born about 1840 in Bohemia; died between 1869 and 1881 in Bohemia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They were the parents of Marie, Frantisek "Frank" Jr., Katie (who married John Kaberle), Kristine (who married Benjamin Scampa), Josephine (who married a KOVARIK), Matej "Mike" and Jan "John."