23 February 2000

Marie B. Vlasak, 79, of Wilber, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2000 in Crete.

She was born August 5, 1920 on a farm north of Milligan, to John F. and Bessie R. (Masek) Kotas. She attended the Milligan Public School and graduated with the class of 1938. She helped on the family farm and did housework in the Crete area working at the Crete Mills and Fairmont Creamery. She married Charles Vlasak, Jr. on Sept.23, 1943, at the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber. In 1993, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

They made their home in Spokane, Wash. while Charles was in the service. Here she worked for Nabisco Biscuit Co. and Armour Meat Packing Plant. They moved back to Crete where she worked for Gooches and in 1946 moved to a farm north of Hallam. In 1957, they moved to a farm south of Wilber, retiring in 1989 and moved into Wilber.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Wilber for 38 years; a member of ZCBJ Lodge No. 3 inCrete, receiving her 50 year membership pin and was a V.A. Hospital volunteer for 888 hours.

She is survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim F. and Norma Kotas of Milligan, Donald and Velma Kotas of Lincoln; nieces and nephews and spouses; Aunt Mae Kotas of Milligan and great and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Vlasak, Jr., Oct. 24, 1996; infant brother, Johnny Kotas; sister and brother-in-law, Henrietta and Marion Arbuck.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb.10 at 2 p.m. at Zajicek Funeral Home in Wilber with the Rev. Paul Quackenbush officiating. Soloist Elmer Nemec accompanied by Bernice Zajicek.

Interment was at the Wilber Czech Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Wayne Arbuck, Dennis Kotas, Doug Kotas, Brad Kasl, Doug Hayek and Daryl Hayek.

Honorary pallbearers were Delbert Kotas, David Kotas, Gerald Splichal, Jon Eisenhauer, Darin Keller, Chuck Rains, Paul Essman and Mark Bors.

Memorials may be directed to the Charles and Marie Vlasak Scholarship Fund.

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We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to all who remembered Marie during her illness. Your warm thoughts, cards, visits and flowers meant very much to her. A very sincere Thank You for your kindness to our family, since our loss of Marie. We appreciate your cards, memorial gifts, flowers, and your attendance at the funeral. We appreciate all the food and we thank the ladies that prepared the lunch. It is wonderful to be remembered by all of you very fine people.

JIM AND NORMA KOTAS,

DON AND VELMA KOTAS,

NIECES AND NEPHEWS.