Dean Michael Kassik

Notes:

A Funeral Service for Deanie will be held on Friday, June 23, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Milligan Auditorium. Father Scott Courtney will officiate the service.

Burial will follow in the in Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan, Nebraska.

Visitation will be held at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home-Kotas Chapel, in Milligan on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.

Dean Michael Kassik was born to Laura (Bigelow) Kassik and Dean Albert Kassik on June 9, 1990 in Geneva, NE. He passed away on June 20, 2017 in Milligan, Nebraska at the young age of 27.

Dean Michael was so very loved and from the very beginning has always been the center of his parent's and sister's world. He was always very high spirited and from a young age he had an eye for adventure and was gifted with extreme intelligence. Deanie loved more than anything to dance, was the life of the party most times, and enjoyed cracking jokes and making people laugh.

Dean went through school with a 4.0 and was the valedictorian of his class. He participated in all four sports during all four years of his high school career. He was on the speech team, quiz bowl, class play, class officer (president of his class) and earned high honors each year. Upon graduation he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and was a semester away from graduating with his Accounting degree.

Deanie had a very tender heart. He loved his nieces very much and they brought so much joy to his life. He truly enjoyed spending time with them and would often refer to them as "his five girls". He simply adored his two sisters, and would often say how lucky he was to rely on both of them for lifes advice throughout his years. Deanie idolized his father and admired his strong work ethic. Deanie's first true love was, of course, his mom, Laura. Dean recently learned how to make moms signature "meatloaf", and was excited to have more cooking lessons.

Deanie worked at Kassik Milling, the family business, throughout his teen years, and majority of his adult life. He tried very hard to accomplish all tasks he was given and took so much pride in helping his Dad and Uncle Mike "run" Kassik Milling-always saying how some day he was gonna take over and make his father proud.

Deanie struggled with mental illness. He found the Lord, and became deeply devoted to Christ, praying many times throughout the day, and attending church every Sunday. He encouraged others to pray with him and talk about Christ. He often spoke of gods grace and mercy and how he was destined for Heaven-truly a walking angel on this earth.

Dean Michael Kassik was preceded in death by His grandparents Leonard Kassik and Henry & Roma Bigelow.

He is survived by his parents Laura & Dean Kassik: sisters and brother-in-law Abbey Kassik, Ashley & Steven Havel; Grandmother Arlene Kassik; nieces Ava, Lilly, Livia, Kora, and Laney; and a host of Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and friends.

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Leonard graduated from Milligan High School in 1940, and bought his brother, Albert, out in the wholesale soft drink business. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on December 3, 1941, ans was attached to the 503rd Fighter Squadron. His group was with the Eighth Air Force in England. He was discharged from the service on October 18, 1945, with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He went into partnership with his brothers, Fred and Albert, in the Feed Mill, Alfalfa Mill, and the implement business. They also distributed wholesale beer and soft drinks. Leonard also played the trumpet with many different bands over the years. He assumed the leadership of the Milligan Legion Brass Band in 1961, along with managing the Milligan Auditorium Theater from 1958 through 1962. He was active in numerous civic organizations. (Milligan, p 330).

Leonard married Arlene Venice Vnoucek on 21 May 1946. Arlene (daughter of Joseph Robert Vnoucek and Ella Eret) was born on 24 Jul 1925 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 10 Jan 2022 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Arlene attended High School in Crete, graduating in 1942. She worked at the Bruning and Fairmont Air Force Bases during World War II. She was later employed by the Milligan Public School system, the Formfit plant in Crete, and the Youth Development Center at Geneva. As was her husband, Arlene was involved in numerous civic organizations. (Milligan, p 330).

Obituary

A Funeral Service for Alrene will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. at the Milligan Auditorium. Pastor Murry Johnston will preside over the Funeral Service.

A Graveide Service will be held at the Bohemian National Cemetery following the Funeral Service.

Public visitation will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan.

Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, Milligan Auditorium Window Project, or the Milligan Legion Auxiliary.

Arlene Venice Kassik was born to Joseph R. Vnoucek and Ella (Eret) Vnoucek on July 24,1925 at Friend, NE, and passed away January 10, 2022, at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, NE at the age of 96 years, 5 months and 17 days. She was one of 6 children in the family.

Arlene grew up on a farm northeast of Milligan. She attended Country School District #100 and stayed at her Grandmother Eret's home in Crete to attend High School where she graduated with the Class of 1942. After graduation, she worked at the Bruning and Fairmont Airbases during World War II from 1942 to 1946. After her children were in school, she worked at Milligan Public School as a cook, at the Formfit Plant at Crete, and then worked at the Youth Development Center in Geneva, NE from 1981 to 1991.

On May 21,1946, Arlene was married to Leonard Kassik of Milligan, NE on her family's farm and to them 3 children were born: Michael Leonard, Dean Albert, and Patricia Marie. Her family farm was a place where she held an abundance of memories like the one Christmas Leonard rode on horseback due to large amounts of snow to deliver her Christmas gift which was a brown fur coat. She first met Leonard when Arlene's brother Loren, along with Leonard, came to get her and Dot for the weekend at Crete while they were staying at her Grandmother Eret's.

Arlene was a member of the Milligan United Methodist Church and UMW spanning over 50 plus years. Since 1945 she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #240 where she held offices at the local and county level. Arlene was also a member of the WFLA and Senior Citizens Club in Milligan. Her talents of Czech cooking, sewing, crocheting, knitting and embroidery were weaved throughout her whole life. Family and friends, time and time again, enjoyed her kolaches and dumplings. Her children donned her talents of homemade costumes and clothes. Her handwork of blankets and towels is a gift that will never be forgotten. As a witness of all of these things, Arlene's passion in life was her husband, her family, dancing and music, which lead her to support Leonard with The Milligan Czech Brass Band.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Ella Vnoucek; husband Leonard Kassik; grandson Dean M. Kassik; brothers and sisters in law Loren Vnoucek and Arnold Vnoucek and Evelyn, Anna Vnoucek, Ray Soukup, Leslie Skrivanek, Marian and Emil Beranek, Albert and Neva Kassik, Fred and Mary Kassik, and niece Nancy Soukup; nephews Loren Skrivanek, Leonard (Magee) and Dennis Beranek, and Sam and Tom Kassik.

She is survived by sons Michael and wife Debbie Kassik, and Dean and wife Laura Kassik of Milligan; daughter Patricia and husband Timothy Remmers of Bruning; sisters Dorothy Skrivanek of Geneva and Betty Soukup of Lincoln; brother Joe A. Vnoucek of Farimont; 8 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.


(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, from Farmer and Son Funeral Home)

Notes:

Married:
The family are all members of the Methodist Church. (Milligan, p 330).

Notes:

Henry attended the University of New Hampshire Engineering school, and worked as a Nuclear Engineer in Portsmouth for 15 years, later transferring to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. (Milligan, p 207). They retired to Spring Hill, Florida and enjoyed cruising their boat on the Gulf and many waterways of Florida. In 2005, they sold their Florida home and moved to Milligan. (Milligan, 1988-2008, p 116).

Obituary

Funeral services for Hank will be held on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home-Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska. Kim Dunker will officiate the service. Graveside services will follow the funeral in the Bohemian National Cemetery.
Visitation will begin on Monday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Kotas Chapel in Milligan. Memorials are directed to the family.

Henry Ramsdell Bigelow, of Milligan, Nebraska, passed away on October 26, 2012 at the Beatrice Community Hospital. He was 78 years old. He was born on July 23, 1934 in Bourne, Massachusetts to Victor Bigelow and Bernice Ramsdell Bigelow. He was baptized in the Baptist Church in Quincy, Massachusetts. After graduating from Dover High School in New Hampshire, he attended the University of New Hampshire, graduating with a degree in Nuclear Engineering. He served in the United States Air Force from 1952 - 1956.

While stationed in Lincoln, he met the love of his life, as well as the wind beneath his wings, Roma Buzek. He whisked her away to New Hampshire where he introduced her to his loving family, and of course, his love for seafood. Together, they wed and had four children: Julie, Laura, Beth, and Mark. He moved the family west in 1969 to the beautiful Napa Valley where they built a new home on the Napa River, equipped with a dock in the back yard where he proudly displayed his love of boating with a 31 foot Silverton dubbed "The Prowler." He enjoyed fishing, good friends, and he often stated, "Life was a party in those days."

Henry was a highly intelligent man. He often spent many nights after supper quizzing his children on spelling, math, science, and miscellaneous other topics, with the winners of the quizzes receiving ice cream at Foster Freeze.

Henry retired in 1989, and he and Roma moved to Florida where they bough a dream home and their dream boat, which they named "Abracadabra." They spent their time with good friends at the Hernando Beach Yacht Club, where Henry was very active, holding many Commanding Offices.
Henry also had a great love of woodworking, where he made all of his family many beautiful cherished heirlooms and was tenacious about completing these projects.

They came home to Milligan in 2005, to spend the remaining years of his life with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He enjoyed again the quiz games, as well as various sporting and other activities his family participated in.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents Victor & Bernice, and adored sister Joyce Kemp.
He is survived by his wife Roma; daughters and son-in-law Julie Pimentel, Laura & Dean Kassik, Beth Dunlap; son and daughter-in-law Mark & Becky Bigelow; 14 grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Merle & Betty Buzek and Kathy & Dick Rischling; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Henry married Roma Beth Buzek. Roma (daughter of Miloslav "Milo" Edward Buzek and Mildred Hines) was born on 6 Jul 1936 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 6 Jul 1936 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A graduate of Milligan High School and of the Lincoln School of Commerce. She worked at the Lincoln County Assessor's office, and after moving to California she became the personnel manager of Sawyer of Napa, a sheepskin tannery and shearling coat manufacturer. (Milligan, p 207). After moving to Milligan in 2005 Roma became a board member of the Milligan Public Library and the Milligan High School Alumni Association. (Milligan, 1988-2008, p 236).

Obituary for Roma Beth Bigelow

Funeral services for Roma will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2016, at the Milligan Auditorium in Milligan, Nebraska, with Chaplain Shari Lagemann officiating. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan, Nebraska.

Public visitation will begin Friday from 1 pm until 8 pm at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan. Memorials are directed to the Milligan Auditorium.

Roma Beth Bigelow, of Milligan, Nebraska passed away on March 2, 2016 at the Friend Manor at the age of 79 years 7 months and 27 days. She was born on July 6, 1936 in Geneva, Nebraska to Mildred H. (Hines) Buzek and Milo E. Buzek. She was a member of the Methodist Church.
Roma spent her childhood on a farm in Tobias, surrounded by her loving parents, siblings, cousins and many aunts and uncles. They were a very close family, and spent a lot of their time together at many family gatherings. She graduated from Milligan High in Nebraska and attended the Lincoln School of Commerce.

It was in Lincoln where she met the love of her life, and very strong willed husband, Henry "Hank" Bigelow. Together they wed, and Roma relocated to New Hampshire, Henry's hometown, at the age of 19. This was a daunting task for Roma as she had never been out of the state of Nebraska. To this union, four children were born; Julie, Laura, Beth and Mark. Roma adapted quite well and enjoyed the new experiences of seafood, winding roads and the woods of New England. In 1969 the family headed west, relocating to Napa Valley, California where Roma settled in her new home in the River Park Estates. Although Roma never learned to swim, she now lived on the Napa River, complete with a 31-foot boat and dock in her backyard. Once again, Roma graciously took full advantage of yet another new experience, embracing the valley and all the excitement the wine country offered in the 1970's and 80's. Roma loved to cook?she taught herself how to make gourmet meals and loved to be in charge of catering many meals for the yacht club and marinas. Roma also became an accomplished first mate and fisherman; usually very lucking in landing the largest and heaviest salmon, grouper, or whatever was the catch of the day, much to her husbands chagrin. During this period in the Napa Valley she also worked as a Personnel Manager for Sawyer Tanning of Napa as well as Ray Burlison Real Estate.

After retiring in 1989, she and Hank moved to Florida where they purchased their dream home and dreamboat, which then named "Abracadabra". They spent their time with their good friends at the Hernando Beach Yacht Club where Roma prepared countless feasts for their many parties and functions.

Roma also was an accomplished seamstress, in her younger years, sewing most of the families clothing, as well as upholstering many boat cushions, etc. She loved to do crafts and helped paint and stain her husbands many woodworking projects.

Hank and Roma returned to Milligan in 2005 to spend their remaining years with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her many relatives in the area. Roma was actively involved in volunteering at the library and the WWII plane crash memorial established on the north corner of Milligan. While retired in Milligan, Roma suffered from a stroke, which greatly reduced her ability to be as active as she wished, however, she continued to move ahead and take care of her husband and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Milo, husband, Henry, and sister-in-laws; Betty Buzek and Joyce Kemp.

She is survived by daughters, son, spouses: Julie Pimentel, Laura (Dean) Kassik, Beth Dunlap, Mark (Becky) Bigelow; sister, brother and spouse; Merle Buzek, Kathy (Dick) Rischling: 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, copied from Farmer and Sons website)

Notes:

Fifty year member of the ZCJB Lodge Svatopluch Cech, and member of the village board for many years.

Albert married Marie Frycek on 21 Mar 1911. Marie (daughter of Frantisek "Frank" Frycek and Terezie Pesik) was born on 25 Jan 1888 in Sechutice, Kralovice, Bohemia; died on 31 Mar 1940 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A hard working person, Marie spent a great deal of time at the mill sacking flour, and doing other jobs. Despite her busy schedule she always managed to find time to help others. (Milligan, p 327).

Notes:

Married:
After deciding to discontinue farming, they had a sale in 1923 and started building a flour mill in Milligan. In 1924, they moved to town and began operations in the mill and elevator. In the early 1930's, Albert and his sons built one of the first cold storage locker plants in the area. In connection with this, they engaged in the wholesale beer business. (Milligan, p 327).

Joseph married Ella Eret on 30 Mar 1920 in Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. Ella was born on 3 Aug 1899 in Western, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Milo attended rural school District #85 in Saline County, and was one of three children in his family that graduated from High School. He briefly attended the University of Nebraska, but an appendix operation curtailed his education and he returned to Milligan. He worked as a meat cutter and later operated a grocery store. In 1942, he and Mildred moved to a farm sound to Milligan. Later they moved to Lincoln, where Milo worked at Cushman Motors and Mildred worked at the University. The family lived in Lincoln until 1969, when they went back to the farm he loved. Milo passed away at his home of a heart attack, and is buried in the Bohemian National Cemetery. (Milligan, p 228).

(Research):

Census Listings:

Nebraska, Fillmore County, Glengary Twp
Enumerated 14 Apr 1930
ED 30-17 SD 11 Sheet 6A Stamped 102
120-121
Buzek, Milo Head M WE 25 M 23 Neb Czech Czech
Buzek, Mildred Wife F W 23 M 21 Neb Neb Czech
Buzek, Merle D Son M W 10/12 S Neb Czech Czech

Miloslav married Mildred Hines on 28 May 1928. Mildred (daughter of Joseph E. Hines and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Racek) was born on 7 Apr 1907 in Saunders County, Nebraska; died on 26 Feb 1997 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buzek - Mildred H., 89, Milligan, died Wednesday (2/26/97) in Friend. Born, Morse Bluff. Survivors: son, Merle D., Milligan; daughters, Roma B. Bigelow, Kathryn A. Rischling, both Milligan; sister, Julia Kuska, Exeter; nine grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Farmer & Son Funeral Home, Kotas Chapel, Milligan. Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan. Visitation: begins 1 p.m. today, funeral home, Milligan. Memorials in lieu of flowers in care of family.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, Lincoln Journal Star archives)