LaVern Tesar

Notes:

On Dec. 24, 2021, LaVern Tesar, son of John and Elsie (Slepicka) Tesar, passed away at home in Kennewick, Washington, from heart failure. He recently celebrated his 94th birthday Dec. 18 with his extended family.

Vern was born on a farm near Exeter, then the family moved near Tobias, where he started grade school at the age of 4. The first few years of high school were in Milligan with graduation from Wilber High School. After three and one-half years serving in the Navy during World War II, he was married to Marjory Beck (daughter of Ed and Alice Beck) of Wilber on July 12, 1950. Vern received an Associates degree in electronics from Valparaiso Technical School and was hired by IBM, where he worked for 31 years. He became plant manager at the Boulder, Colorado, IBM facility.

While in retirement, he held jobs as a deputy sheriff, real estate salesman, search and rescue volunteer, Meals on Wheels driver and senior center cook. He was an avid elk hunter and craftsman, building a home in the Colorado mountains. After he moved to Washington state, he could often be found in the orchards picking the apples and cherries missed by the professional crews. He enjoyed salmon fishing, and clamming and crabbing ar the beaches. He was always ready to help friends during branding time, pushing cows through the squeeze chute. Vern enjoyed family time listening to Big Joe and Molly B polka music. Marjory and Vern enjoyed traveling to many locations around the world.

Vern is survived by his wife Marjory, and their three children, Randy, Gaye and Jon. He enjoyed the expansion of the family in recent years with seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Elaine, Darlene, Johnnie, Delyte, Rene and Vicki. His parents and brother, Larry, preceded him in death.

Vern will always be remembered as a very social person who enjoyed bringing people together. His family and his role in the family were very important to him. He will be missed by his family and friends.

Vern's ashes will be interred at the Wilber Czech Cemetery. Due to Covid concerns. a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

LaVern married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Elsie Slepicka. Elsie (daughter of Charles A Slepicka and Josephine Bors) was born on 5 Jun 1904 in Iowa; died on 21 Dec 2002 in Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Wilber Czech Cemetery (Bohemian-Slavonian Cemetery), Wilber, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Anezka "Agnes" Svec on 15 Feb 1898. Anezka (daughter of Vaclav "James" Svec and Marie "Mary" Suda) was born on 23 Sep 1877 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 15 Dec 1947 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles married Josephine Bors. Josephine (daughter of Petr "Peter" Bors and Kristyna Hran?cov) was born on 16 Mar 1883 in Saline County, Nebraska; died on 28 Feb 1924 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried on 1 Mar 1924 in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Vaclav Svec and Marie Suda were early pioneers in Fillmore County. They lived all their married life on the farm which Vaclav homesteaded. The farm, still in the family, is one mile west of Milligan.

Vaclav Svec was born October 16, 1841, to Josef and Barbora Kippova or Kibova Svec in Zichovice, okres Stasecky, Bohemia. When he was 12, his mother died so he had to make his way in the world while still a young boy. He took up the trade of a cabinent maker. He came to America in 1869, following his trade of carpenter and farmer for a time in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Vaclav came to Nebraska two years later...filing the homestead entry at the Beatrice Land Office on April 17, 1871.

From the Familysearch 1880 United States Census and National Index

Census Place:Glengary, Fillmore, Nebraska Source:FHL Film 1254748 National Archives Film T9-0748 Page 50 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace James SWECSelfMMW40BOHEMEN Occ:FarmerFa: BOHEMENMo: BOHEMEN Mary SWECWifeFMW24BOHEMEN Occ:HousekeeperFa: BOHEMENMo: BOHEMEN Agnes SWECDauFSW2NE Fa: BOHEMENMo: BOHEMEN Mary SWECDauFSW1NE Fa: BOHEMENMo: BOHEMEN

Vaclav married Marie "Mary" Suda on 17 Jan 1873 in Fillmore County, Nebraska. Marie was born on 29 Oct 1856 in Pisek, Bohemia; died on 3 Jun 1921; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Marie Suda came to this country with her parents in 1868...(her) first home in America was Chicago, where the family remained until 1871. Leaving Chicago after the great fire, her parents, Frantisek and Karolina Klokanova Suda, homesteaded in Section 2 of Glengary Township.

Place of birth sometimes shown as Berdekov u Blatne Pisek, Bohemia.

Petr married Kristyna Hran?cov. Kristyna was born in Jul 1861 in Cernice, Klatovy, Plzensk? kraj, Bohemia; died on 5 Aug 1907 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]