Alba Fujan

Alba married James V. Bernasek on 25 Oct 1932 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska. James (son of Cyril Bernasek and Marie Andelova) was born on 14 Dec 1893 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 11 Jun 1987 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried on 15 Jun 1987 in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary
(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

A public Funeral Service for Jean will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fairmont Community Church in Fairmont, Nebraska. Pastor Seungli You will officiate the service.

There will be no public visitation per Jean's wishes. Following the Funeral Service, Jean will be cremated and her ashes will be interred at the Fairmont Public Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Neil Priefert Scholarship Fund or the Fairmont Community Church.

Due to the Covid 19 Epidemic, we will be practicing social distancing guidelines at the Funeral Service.

Jean (Bernasek) Priefert was born March 1, 1935 in Geneva, NE to James and Alba (Fujan) Bernasek. She passed away on June 21, 2020 at her home near Fairmont, Nebraska at the age of 85 years, 3 months, and 20 days.

She graduated from Geneva High School. On September 5, 1954 she married Neil Priefert at the United Brethren Church in Geneva. Neil and Jean were married for 63 years. Four daughters filled their home with activity; Mary, Carol, Linda and Susan.

Jean was a 50-year member of the Fairmont Federated Women's Club. She enjoyed the camaraderie as well as the community mindedness of this group of women. Jean was also an active member of WIFE, Women Involved in Farm Economics. Her task for the weekend of her death was getting a newsletter article written for them. Jean was a founding member of the Nebraska Poll-ettes and served on the National Poll-ette Cookbook Committee typing sections of the cookbook with recipes submitted from around the nation on a Royal manual typewriter at the kitchen table. In 2017 she was honored as the National Hereford Woman of the Year at the American Royal in Kansas City, MO.

Jean enjoyed the outdoors and her animals. Every morning and every evening you could find her "doing chores," feeding cats, dogs, letting the chickens out and feeding grain to the cows. While spending years in the registered cattle business, it wasn't unusual to find a calf being warmed in the bathtub, or a chicken being nurtured back to health after falling in the oil pit. While many used the Sunbeam electric skillet to fry chicken on the kitchen counter, Jean hatched baby chicks in hers. The story had been told of Jean, classmates Elaine and Helen Carol, being caught with a kitten hidden in a box in their Home Ec class by Miss Betty Christiancy. Betty Christiancy went on to be Betty Betka, who was Jean's daughters 4-H leader.

The registered cattle herd was an integral part of Jean's life on the farm. Hours were spent at the kitchen table filling out registration forms, recording birth weights, and weaning weights. The neighborhood party line let callers know when Jean wasn't home and let Jean know someone was looking for a bull. Life-long friendships developed as the family spent time each summer attending cattle tours with the Riffel family, county and state fairs, Junior Nationals and AK-SAR-BEN, auctions in the winter, and progress shows in the spring. Jean and Neil enjoyed traveling the country to the Standard of Perfection Shows in Kansas City, Denver, Fort Worth and Portland. Neil and Jean were avid supporters of young people in the beef industry, hence the Neil Priefert Scholarship for a member of the Nebraska Junior Hereford Association. In recent years, Jean and Neil were staples at the Sutton sale barn for lunch on Fridays. They recorded the lot number, weight and price of every animal that went thru the ring.

Jean farmed right along side her husband. It wasn't unusual to see her on the tractor, headed to the field. She also made many parts runs for Neil. It is quite possible some of those parts were to repair equipment she'd been using. Tractors didn't always have cabs then, but Jean was happy if the tractor had a radio so she could listen to polkas, KRVN and baseball games on KFAB.

Jean coached countless innings of girls' softball in Fairmont. Playing catch in the yard with her daughters was a normal part of summers. She played many seasons on the Fairmont Lion's Club women's team. She could be counted on to try a bunt and steal a base. The women's team's season culminated at the Strang Tournament where the team won the coveted trophy several successive seasons. Her pregnancy with youngest daughter Susan was kept a secret from everyone so Grandma Bernasek wouldn't be upset to see Jean continuing to catch behind home plate with Bonnie Nelson on the mound.

Jean spent her working career as a Cottage Parent at YRTC in Geneva. Following her retirement from YRTC, she drove for Eichman's transport company in York. She transported Epworth Village residents and clients to school and varioius appointments. Any unwholesome conversations or arguments between students brought them an exposure to Jean's Czech heritage as she turned up her polka music on the radio.

Jean was a pioneer in her own right. She was concerned about ground water, soil conditions, and proper care of animals. She was an avid gardener, promoting nutrition to her family before it was a public health initiative. What would be called family bonding time today, took place on the back step as Jean and the girls snapped 5-gallon buckets of green beans while swatting mosquitos. Jean was a tireless supporter of the beef industry and providing home-raised beef for her family. She spent many years supporting youth, sitting on the bleachers watching ballgames and cattle shows after her own family was raised. She spoke her mind and was proud of her heritage. She cared deeply about sports opportunities and education for girls. She truly was ahead of her time.

Jean was proceeded in death by her husband Neil, her parents, James and Alba Bernasek and in-laws Elmer and Margaret Priefert.

Those who remain are: Daughters: Mary (Dana) Scott of York, NE; Carol (David Wentworth) Priefert of Centennial, WY; Linda (Kirby) Zuerlein of Fairmont, NE. Grandchildren: Zac (Amanda) Scott of York, NE; Nick (Kelsey) Scott of Norfolk, NE; Ryan (Sara Stearns) Scott of York, NE; Adam (Anna) Scott of Lincoln, Curtis (Sydney) Scott of Gretna, NE; Lindsey Carroll of Lincoln; Danielle (Dakota) Cooper of York, NE; and Leslie Carroll of Fairmont, NE. Great-grandchildren: Jane Scott, Ethan Stearns, Hudson and Wyatt Scott, and Dominic, Derek & Dusty Cooper.

Jean married Neil E. Priefert on 5 Sep 1954 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Neil was born on 24 Apr 1929 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 27 Jan 2019 in Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Fairmont Public Cemetery, Fairmont, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary

Linda Jean Priefert was born to Neil & Jean (Bernasek) Priefert on February 21, 1961 in York, Nebraska. She passed away on July 6, 2023 in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 62 years, some months and a bunch of days surrounded by Lindsey, Danielle and Leslie. Linda gave her cancer one hell of a ride; however, tricked the beast and slipped quietly to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Linda was raised in rural Fairmont, Nebraska with her three sisters, Mary, Carol & Susan. She graduated from Fairmont High School with the class of 1979. A proud Fairmont Tiger, Linda loved her time as a cheerleader and baton twirler, a skill she would carry into her professional life as she later became named as Ms. Fairmont at a clerk convention. As she continued through her adult life, she held her Fairmont alums as dear friends and was always proud to be a FHS Tiger.

On a hot day on July 11,1981, Linda was united in marriage to Dave Carroll in Fairmont, NE. To this union three daughters were born: Lindsey, Danielle and Leslie. Motherhood quickly became Linda's greatest achievement. She was "Mama Linda" to many kids in surrounding communities and loved them like her own.

She was a fearless leader of Girl Scouts, active softball coach, Fillmore Central Teammates supporter, dedicated FFA booster & 4-H mom. She thoroughly enjoyed supporting her daughters in activities, especially show choir and marching band. The friendships that Linda formed with other mothers during this time were friendships she carried throughout her entire life. Linda's antics at the National FFA convention won't soon be forgotten.

The majority of Linda's career was spent as Village Clerk of Fairmont for 28 years. She found great joy in serving her fellow community members. Throughout her tenure she attended many conferences, welcomed new clerks with open arms and gained life-long friends. While employed full time, Linda earned her Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management in 2014 from Concordia University, something she took great pride in accomplishing. The capstone of her career was when she was named the USDA Rural Development Clerk of Nebraska in 2017. All those that ever called the Fairmont Village Office can still hear her chirpy voice greet you with, "Fairmont Village Hall, this is Linda".
As life continued, Linda and Dave parted ways,knowing they had given the best of themselves to their daughters. Linda married Kirby Zuerlein on June 16, 2018 in Kearney, NE. Attending worship services in Guide Rock, NE and enjoying meals with friends were important throughout their union.

Linda was an active member of the Fairmont community including the Legion Auxiliary, Community Club and Women's Club. A meeting in Fairmont, NE wasn't a meeting without Linda's voice. She was an active member of the Fairmont Community Church, teaching Sunday school and proudly singing in the church choir. She especially enjoyed her time with the United Methodist Women and her Kid's Rock kids.

Linda will be remembered for being a friend to all, having a bigger than life personality and being just enough EXTRA to make each day with her an adventure.

Linda is preceded in death by her grandparents Elmer & Margaret Priefert and James & Alba Bernasek; parents Neil & Jean Priefert; great aunt Mollie Pope; aunt Vivian Loge; uncle Bob Baker; father-in-law & mother-in-law Bob & Carol Carroll; brother-in-law Kevin Carroll; Kansas parents Leon & Donna Riffel.

She is survived by her daughters Lindsey Carroll of Lincoln, NE, Danielle (Dakota) Cooper of York, NE, Leslie Carroll of Fairmont, NE; husband Kirby Zuerlein of Red Cloud, NE; grandsons Dominic, Derek & Dusty of York, NE; beloved grandpup Charles of Fairmont, NE; sisters Mary (Dana) Scott of York,NE, Carol (David) Priefert of Centennial, WY, Susan (Brandon) Priefert of Sisters, OR; aunt Wilma Baker of Norfolk, NE; Scott boys & families, Carroll kids & families, Baker cousins, Riffel cousins and many family friends.

A Memorial Service for Linda will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fairmont Community Church in Fairmont, Nebraska with Pastor Monica Magoola & Lay Pastor Michelle Lessard presiding.

A Book Signing will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, Nebraska.

Burial of Ashes will be held following the Memorial Service in the Fairmont Public Cemetery in Fairmont, Nebraska.

Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, from Farmer and Son Funeral Home