Christina "Tena" Bartu

Christina married Charles Kovanda on 9 Oct 1902. Charles was born about 1874; died on 27 Dec 1966 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alice married Edmen Motis on 9 Aug 1927. Edmen (son of Frank Motis and Christinia Matejka) was born on 19 Jul 1902 in Nebraska; died on 1 Aug 1992 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mamie H. Zeleny. Mamie (daughter of Josef "Joseph" Zeleny and Anna Bures) was born on 21 Sep 1905 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 26 Mar 1995 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Helen married Frank Motis on 9 Aug 1927. Frank (son of Frank Motis and Christinia Matejka) was born on 23 Oct 1904 in Iowa; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William "Bill" Kovanda

William "Bill" Kovanda 97, Milligan died Sunday (11/2/08) in Friend, Neb. Born on March 13, 1911 at Exeter, Neb. to Charles & Christina (Bartu) Kovanda. Survivors: daughter, Darlene & Harold Kubicek Jr., Milligan; sisters, Maxine Svec, Friend; Clarabelle & Walter Smith, Exeter; nieces & nephews. Funeral Service 1:30 p.m. Wednesday (11/5/08) at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel, Milligan, Neb. Revs. Tim & Ginny Adams officiating. Graveside Services: Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan. Visitation from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday (11/4/08) at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan. Memorials are directed to the Milligan Rescue Unit.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Ernest Svec. Ernest (son of Josef "Joseph" Svec and Amelia Laun) was born on 14 Sep 1911 in Saline County, Nebraska; died on 14 Feb 1996 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Maxine Irene Svec, of Friend, was boirn to Charles and Christina (Bartu) Kovanda on October 5, 1920 at her parents farm home near Exeter, Nebraska in Fillmore County, the eighth of nine children, and passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2010, at the Friend Manor in Friend, Nebraska, at the age of 90 years 2 months and 20 days. As a young girl, Maxine attended Country School District #5 and graduated from the 8th grade. She began her life-time work as a cook at the hotel in Geneva. She then was employed at the Fairmont Airbase, the Fitzsimons Hospital in Aurora, Colorado and retired after 23 years from the Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend.

Maxine was united in marriage to James Shank on June 12, 1946 and he passed away on February 5, 1949, after a lengthy illness. She was then blessed with a second marriage to Henry Svec on August 15, 1953 and to this union two daughters, Phyllis and Sharon were born. Together they made their home on a farm southwest of Friend until Henry's death in 1978. During the years they lived on the farm, Maxine was a busy farm wife and mother, raising chickens and a large garden to feed her family. After Henry died she moved to Friend where she lived with her daughter, Sharon, until her recent illness.

Maxine was an exceptional baker, especially her Kolaches and twists which she always made sure were available for her grandsons when they came to visit. She also enjoyed gardening especially raising flowers. Maxine was a member of the Friend Garden Club, the Friend Golden Agers and enjoyed playing cards.

She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Phyllis and Tom Lenagh, Farmington, MN, Sharon Svec , Friend, two grandsons, Patrick Lenagh, Ashland, WI, Shawn Lenagh, Milwaukee, WI, sister, Clarabell Smith, Exeter, NE, brothers-in-law, Alfred Krupicka, Leo Soukup, Exeter, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, James Shank and Henry Svec, sisters, Alice Motis, Helen Motis, Mary Svec, brothers, Edward, Charles, Anton and William Kovanda.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Bohemian National Cemetery, Milligan. Visitation will be from 1-8 pm on Tuesday, at the funeral home. Memorials are directed in care of the family for later designation.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Maxine married Henry Svec on 15 Aug 1953. Henry (son of Josef "Joseph" Svec and Amelia Laun) was born on 30 Dec 1916 in Saline County, Nebraska; died in Nov 1978 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Edmund Raymond Motis, 85, passed away Jan. 7, 2016, at his home in Babson Park, Fla. Born Sept. 4, 1930, in Exeter to the late Edmen and Alice (Kovanda) Motis. He had been a resident of the Lake Wales, Fla., area for 29 years, moving there from Friend. He was a parts manager for Chemical Containers and served his country in the U.S. Air Force as a flight line radio technician and fought in the Korean War. Member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, and the American Legion Post 183 in Friend. He loved to water ski, was a fisherman, a duck hunter and a wood worker. Also an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan and held onto season tickets even after moving to Florida. He would not give them up.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Motis and a son, Matt Motis. Survivors include his sons, Michael Motis and wife, Regina, John Motis and his wife, Laura, David Motis and his wife, Jeanette, all of Babson Park; daughter-in-law, Rhonda Motis of Lake Wales. Sisters: Goldie Motis Quinn of Lincoln and Marjorie Motis Johansen of Friend; 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with The Rev. Fr. Thomas C. Seitz, Rev. Joan Brawley and Deacon John Motis. In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to American Legion Post 183, Main Street, Friend, NE 68359. Arrangements by Marion Nelson Funeral Home.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Family/Spouse: Ruth Bulwan. Ruth was born on 25 Jan 1935 in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska; died on 13 Sep 2014 in Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mel D. Motis, 75, of Geneva, died July 15, 2014 in Friend. Born June 17, 1939 to Frank & Helen (Kovanda) Motis.

Survivors: sons, Mike & Brenda Motis, Geneva, Doug & Lori Motis, Exeter, Jim & Natalie Motis, Geneva; eight grandchildren.

Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday, United Church of Christ, Exeter; Pastor Kenn Leischner. Visitation: 1-8 p.m. with family present 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Farmer & Son Funeral Home, Geneva. Cremation will follow the funeral service. Memorials directed to the family to be designated later. Condolences, www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com

From 16 July 2914 issue of the Lincoln Journal Star, Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy

Melvin Dean Motis was born to Frank Motis and Helen Kovanda Motis on June 17, 1939, at Exeter, and passed away on Tuesday, July 15, at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend, at the age of 75 years.

Mel grew up in Exeter and graduated from Exeter Public High School in 1957. He married Carol Jean Hughes on April 23, 1966, and to them three sons were born; Mike, Doug and Jim.

Following graduation, Mel served in the US Army and competed on the Army Rifle team, before going to work for Burlington Northern Railroad. After a few years he came back to the family farm and continued to farm with his father, raising crops, hogs and cattle until 1984 when the farm economy began to struggle. During this time Mel served for 8 years on the Exeter School board. With three growing boys to feed, Mel was forced to work off the farm at various jobs, including Volkmer Construction, Horizontal Boring and Jacques Seed. In 1988 Mel took a job with Boeing Aviation in Wichita, KS, and worked there until the death of his wife, Carol, in 1993. Mel moved back to the family farm and started M and M Tree Service, which he continued to operate until his health began to fail in 2004. Despite his failing physical strength, Melvin continued to help many neighbors and friends with field work in the spring, and with harvest in the fall. He came to love swathing hay for Jason Oldehoeft, and would never turn down an opportunity to mow hay, a beloved activity he continued until May of this year.

Throughout much of his life, Mel was known for his trap shooting skills, and spent many weekends and weeknights shooting with some of his closest friends. Family vacations often included the State Trap Shoot in Doniphan. Over the years, the mass of trophies, guns and other winnings were enough to fill a whole room. He spent many nights reloading shells after working all day, and would always make it to a shoot the next day, wherever it may be.

Mel was an avid hunter and wildlife lover. Many a time he could be found near his canary grass plot watching the pheasants fly in. Growing up he never missed a hunting season, and he passed that passion on to his three boys. Many winter days he could be found cruising the countryside with all three boys in the truck, looking for pheasant, rabbit or quail. For a little sporting fun, he would even take the boys on an occasional coyote hunt on Sundays, despite missing church services.

Mel was also a devoted sports fan, many Saturdays were spent watching college football with his grandsons, but he was especially proud to watch his grand kids in all their sporting events never missing a chance to attend a football, softball, basketball game or wrestling match.

You could always find Mel at an auction, coin sale, having coffee, or just putting around in the "silver bullet" he refused to quit driving. He spent a lot of time at his grandkids' trap shoots, all of which followed in their granddad's footsteps, taking up an interest in the sport.

He loved the Fillmore County Fair hog show, and you could find him sitting somewhere in the stands. He enjoyed watching Thane, Caroline, Gatlin, and Travien show their pigs, and he would never miss one of their shows, regardless of what else needed to be done. He had the best seat in the house this year having passed on the day of the Fillmore County Fair hog show. He was watching from above as they drove several pigs to champion honors.

In his retirement, Mel found a love of cooking and canning, specializing in pickles, pork and beans, and jaternice, which he was proud to share with family and friends. He spent many hours playing pitch, poker, or any game of chance, and enjoyed riding along on any road trip with the boys, whatever the activity or destination.

Over the years Mel met many people that he was blessed to know, a source of great pride for him. Wherever he went someone knew him.

Mel will be remembered for being just a little bit stubborn and stuck in his ways, maybe a little too quick to complain. But he always said, "If you don't tell someone what they are doing wrong, they won't get better."

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen; wife, Carol; sister, Marlene VanPatte; and brother-in-law William "Blackie" VanPatten.

He is survived by sons, Mike and Brenda, Geneva; Doug and Lori, Exeter; and Jim and Natalie, Geneva; grandsons, Thane, Preston, Colton, Wyatt, Trevian, and Gatlin; granddaughters, Caroline and Toni; brother, Ernest; sister-in-law, Betty Motis; aunt, Clarabelle Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]