FAMILY STORIES

   Some highlights that Laddie and Regina remember include the celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary in 1974. Another was when they received the Pioneer Farm Award given by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. This award is given to anyone whose farm has been in the same family for 100 years. They received the award during a ceremony at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha.

   Laddie and Regina have two sons, Duane and Dennis, both of whom are musicians. Duane, 25, has played the accordion since he was 7. He played with several small groups up until the time that he joined the Al Grebnick Orchestra at the age of 16. He played with Al for five years and made several records with him. While playing with Al, Duane started a combo with Dennis and they often played when Al didn't have an engagement. He has won several awards for his playing. Duane is married and has one son.

   Dennis, 19, has played drums since he was 9. He has played in the combo for eight years. He also helps out various bands when the need arises. Both Duane and Dennis have met many people as a result of their musical career.

   Duane and Dennis both attended District 83 just as their father did. They are graduates of Prague High School. Duane is a graduate of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He is presently am accountant for Central Telephone and Utilities in Bartlett, Illinois. His department had been in Lincoln but was recently transferred to Bartlett. Dennis is currently attending the University of Nebraska and seeking a degree in engineering.

   Laddie, Regina and Dennis attend SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Plasi.

   For entertainment, Laddie and Regina occasionally attend a polka dance. They attended many dances when Duane was playing with Al Grebnick. They have met many new friends as a result. By Laddie Tomsicek

   Delmar Dean Torrens was born on a farm near Colon, Nebraska on August 11, 1926. My parents' name is Mr. and Mrs. John Torrens, better known as Ford Torrens. I lived on that farm until October 12, 1930. Then my folks moved to Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska to open up a produce station, ice house, and a draying business. My sister, Melva, and I delivered the Fremont Daily Tribune for about 5 years. We lived in Cedar Bluffs until October 12, 1941. We moved to Wahoo where my dad went to work at Torrens Produce, which was owned and operated by his two brothers, Lloyd, and Leonard, better known as Chick, and his oldest son, Leslie.

   I graduated from Wahoo High School in May, 1943. Then, after I graduated, I went to work at Torrens Produce, also, until November, 1944 when I was inducted into the army. I was inducted at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and took 8 weeks of Basic Training at Camp Roberts, California. I came home on a three-weeks furlough. Then I went back to Ft. Ord, California, where I went to the South Pacific. I went to the islands of Cebu, Mindanao, and ended up at Leyte. From there I went to the 8th Army Headquarters in Yokohama, Japan in May, 1945. I stayed there until October, 1946. I got my discharge from the army at Camp Beale, California on Nov. 14, 1946.

   I went back to Wahoo, lying around for a month or so. Then, I went to work at the Ammonium Nitrate Plant at Mead in January, 1947. I worked there until June, 1947. I quit that job and went to work at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant in July. On September 5, 1954, I married Durene Drews, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Drews, Mead. At that time she was working in Wahoo as a waitress for Mrs. Gibson at the City and Fairview Cafes.

   We had a daughter, Denise Kay, born in Wahoo on January 22, 1956. Then, in June, 1956, the Ordnance Plant was in the process of closing up, so I came south to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and went to work at the White Sands Missile Range, where I have been working ever since. We had a daughter, Donna Mae, born on January 14, 1962, but she lived only 15 minutes. Then we had a son, David Dean, born on Nov. 30, 1964.

   Denise graduated from Las Cruces High School in May, 1973. After she graduated she went to work at the Las Cruces Manor Home and has been working there ever since. David graduated from Las Cruces High School in May, 1973. He went to work as a clerk and sacker at a Food Mart Store in August, part-time, as he is a student at New Mexico State University. My wife has been working at Mesilla Park School Cafeteria as a cook for the last 12 years. Now since I have them all out of school and working, I will be looking forward to my retirement soon. By Delmar D. Torrens

   I, Ford (John Rutherford) Torrens, son of Samuel Rutherford and Sarah Jane Torrens, was born on July 30, 1893 at Oakdale, Illinois. I came to Nebraska in 1914 and worked for my Uncle John Brown on a farm near Colon, Nebraska. I returned to Oakdale and was united in marriage to Ruth McConnell on October 12, 1916. We came to Nebraska on our honeymoon, continuing to farm, living in the Colon, Ceresco and Wahoo areas.

J.R. Ford Torrens 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1966

   In 1920, we moved to Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska where we started a Produce Station. We raised a family of seven children, namely: Leslie, Dorothy, Melva, Delmar, Derald (Jim), Lyle and Imogene.

   The 1930's were tough years due to the depression, but the older children were able to help in the Produce Station while I did all sorts of available jobs, such as unloading car loads of coal at 25¢ a ton, running a produce route and ice route in summer. No job was too difficult to tackle if there was 25¢ or 50¢ in it; anything to keep the wolf from the door and off of welfare.

   We had a good life and did enjoy the simple things of life for entertainment, always having ponies, carts, wagons and sleds which everyone in Cedar Bluffs enjoyed.

   We were active members of the First Presbyterian Church. I still attend regularly in Wahoo. I retired in 1958, but do work at the church thrift shop occasionally.

   My family is my pride and joy. I have sixteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren, which I enjoy. My wife, Ruth, passed away March 17, 1974. I live in the Westview Apartments in Wahoo, still enjoying the "good life" at the age of 89 years.

   Valentine's Day, 1935 was the wedding date of Adolph Travnicek and Ella Beranek, at the Presbyterian parsonage at Clarkson, Nebraska. They went to live on their farm southwest of Cedar Bluffs in March, 1935 and continued farming for 47 years.

   Their son, Edward, was born March 19, 1936 and Ivan was born September 30, 1941. They both attended country school District #61 and Cedar Bluffs High School. Both attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. While there, Edward earned his B.A. and Master's degree in Chemical Engineering and later received his Ph.D. at Manhattan, Kansas State. He has worked for Monsanto and American Optical companies as a research engineer. Edward and wife, Dorothy (Meyer), have a daughter, Julie, and a son named Andrew. They reside at Southbridge, Massachusetts.

   Ivan Travnicek earned his B.A. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then served in the Navy as a yeoman in Viet Nam. After his discharge he married Sharon Moell of California. They have a daughter, Eva, and a son, Evan. After his divorce, Ivan married Geraldine Worley and they have a son, Stefan. They live in Albuquerque, New Mexico where Ivan is employed as a Sunday Editor of the section of the Albuquerque Journal.

   Adolph and Ella Travnicek built a new home in 1954 to 1955, using mostly their family labor and help from relatives and neighbors.

   When their sons left home, the Travniceks became foster parents to a daughter, Carolyn Blunt. She lived with them from the age of seven, until after her graduation from Cedar Bluffs High School. She moved to Lincoln, Nebraska and married Ted Whitebread. They moved to Lawrence, Kansas and had one son, Aaron. Carolyn died on Mother's Day, May, 1982.

   Another foster daughter, Sharon LeBeau, lived at the Travnicek home for one year. She married John DeVore and they have two sons, Chad and Adam. They live in Omaha.

   Over a span of 13 or more years, a total of thirteen children were cared for, for various short lengths of time.

   Adolph planted many fruit trees and eventually they found themselves busy selling extra fruit to many people. He is often called upon by friends and neighbors to repair their electrical appliances or some mechanical work.

   Ella has been very interested in gardening and in preserving Nebraska's wildflowers. She had been a member of the South Cedar Extension Club many years and is a charter member of the Cedar Bluffs Garden Club. She has been on the state board of the Federated Garden Clubs of Nebraska and has been a representative on the Rocky Mountain Region of the Federation. Submitted by Ella Travnicek

   Herman Treptow came to America from Pommern, Germany in 1880 as a young man at the age of 17. His parents, 2 sisters, and a half-brother also came. One brother remained in Germany. They settled in the Ithaca community, a German-speaking settlement. August Treptow, Herman's father, bought the land that Gerald Treptow now lives on, in 1891 for $25 an acre. When Herman came to this new land of promise and saw corn bins full of corn, he thought it was gold as he had never seen anything like it before. Herman bought the land from his father in 1893.

Herman and Katie Treptow Wedding -- March 21, 1895

   Through the pastor of his church, Herman became acquainted with Katie Schmidt of Fremont. Katie was the second child of Ernest and Augusta Schmidt. Her father, Ernest Schmidt, came to

page 445

America when he was 24. He had heard stories of this new country and an American friend encouraged him to come. They had planned to catch wild horses and sell them to the government, but their business venture didn't work out so Ernest enlisted in the army. After his army duty, he went to Colorado and staked a claim to search for gold. Since that was unsuccessful, he headed east and settled on a farm east of Fremont. Ernest met a young immigrant woman, Augusta Muller. Augusta had come to America with her aunt. The aunt needed her to help bring her four young children to America. Her uncle had come a year earlier.

   Katie and Herman Treptow were married in 1895. To this union 12 children were born, 9 sons and 3 daughters. Of these 12 children only one, Gerald, now remains in Saunders County. Ernest was the Ithaca Postmaster for 16 years. Ralph had a seed corn business. Ben, Werner, and Gerald were farmers in the community. Leola Treptow Frahm operated a skating rink in Ithaca, and later in Ashland for 25 years. All 12 children attended and graduated from the Ithaca Public School. Libby I. Henry taught all 12 children. Now three generations have graduated from the Ithaca school -- Ralph; his son, Ronald; and Ronald's children, Robert and Ronda Treptow. Five generations attended the Ebenezer Evangelical Church (now the United Methodist Church), beginning with August Treptow. Herman died in 1943 and Katie died in 1962.

   Katie was a busy homemaker cooking and caring for her large family. She had a large garden and one of her talents was writing poetry. Providing food for the large family was a challenge. Oatmeal was the daily breakfast fare with cream of wheat as a special treat on Sunday. Oranges were treats at Christmas. Later an overall with a treat in the pocket became the Christmas gift to each son. German was spoken at home and the children learned to speak English when they started public school. The raising of hogs was an important part of farming. The hogs were driven to Ithaca and loaded in a box car on the train when they were ready for market. The youngest son, Gerald, and his son, Glen, continue to have a hog operation. Now they are trucked to market. Submitted by Joan and Doris Treptow

   Kenneth Ray Treptow was born on April 20, 1929 to Martha (Kaufman) and Ben Treptow near Ithaca. Kenneth attended Ithaca Elementary and Wahoo High School. He graduated from the Uni. of Nebr. and received his doctorate from the Uni. of Nebr. Medical School in 1953.

Kenneth, Retha and Craig Treptow

   Retha Marie Hanke was born on Dec. 13, 1929 to Marie (Hageman) and Rudolph Hanke near Ceresco. After she attended kindergarten in Ceresco, the family moved to a farm near Malmo where the children attended Dist. #85. With six children Mother was kept busy with baking. Retha can still remember the taste and smell of all the homemade bread and rolls. While living there, the big snowstorm of 1940 left a big impression in a little girl's memory -- drifts as high as the telephone poles, no school, for fun in the snow for weeks. In the spring when the roads were opened, the family moved near Swedeburg where Retha finished grade school in Dist. #48 and graduated from Ceresco High School in 1947. After attending the Uni. of Nebr. Retha taught two years in Dist. #56. She still remembers the great school board of that district.

   Kenneth and Retha were married June 16, 1950 in the Swedeburg Covenant Church. They lived in Omaha four years while Kenneth finished medical school and internship at Immanuel Hospital. Retha taught in the Omaha Public Schools. Kenneth served in the Air Force for two years at Fairchild, Wash. During this time Retha attended Eastern Wash. College of Ed. and then taught on the air base. After one year of practice in Bassett, Nebr., Kenneth opened his own practice in Central City and then included a partner, Dr. John Campbell, who had just returned from the Belgian Congo as a missionary. When his partner died, Kenneth, after ten years in Central City, went into practice in 1969 with two partners in Aurora, where the family now lives.

   Son Warren was born in 1953 in Omaha. His schooling was completed in Central City, Aurora, and Kearney State College with his doctorate from the Uni. of Utah. He is a research chemist for Dow Chemical in Midland, Mich. He is married to Dianne Robertshaw from Trumbull. They have two sons, Ryan and Mark.

   Douglas was born in 1956 in Bassett. His schooling included schools in Central City, Aurora, and Kearney State College. He will graduate from the Uni. of Nebr. Medical School in 1983. He married Glennis Anderson from Concord. They have one daughter, Sonia.

   Craig was born in 1966 in Central City. He is presently a junior in Aurora High School and is active in music, football, and wrestling.

   Kenneth and Retha are active members of the United Methodist Church in Aurora. They have both been active in Scouting during the time the three boys earned their Eagle Rank and God and Country. Kenneth is continuing his work in Scouting as Co-ordinator for the Nebraska Conference of the Un. Methodist Church and Scouting. Retha has served six years on the Hamilton Community Foundation Board of Directors, co-chairman of the Fine Arts. Both Ken and Retha are pilots enjoying the airport at Wahoo. Saunders County looks great from the air as well as the ground.

   My ancestors came from Moravia, Bohemia, and Czechoslovakia. Between the years of 1629 and 1870, no religion was allowed in Bohemia or Moravia, and was struggling elsewhere. Being strong in their Christian faith, many families immigrated to the U.S. where they could freely worship God. The families emigrating were primarily farmers.

   Joseph Trutna, my great-grandfather, was born in Moravia in 1820 and married Miss Palas and after her death married Frantiska Pestal. Raising a family of eight children, John Trutna, my grandfather was born in 1866 and married Mary Pokorny. Large families scattered descendants to Minnesota, North Dakota, and by now, from coast to coast.

   After years of gathering in homes to worship God, land was donated by my great-uncle so that the Czech Protestants might have a permanent place of worship. Being among the founders of the Czech Presbyterian Church, it has been my ancestors place of worship for over 100 years.

   My father, Charles B. Trutna, was born in 1893 at Wahoo. My mother, Sylvia Maresh, was born in 1894 at Wahoo. Her parents were Frank Maresh and Barbara Pospisil. In 1917 my parents were married. Making their home near Wahoo they raised five children: Sylvia, James, Marian, Marjorie, and Betty.

   My family began in 1949 when Evelyn A. Buresh of Saratoga, Iowa became my wife. Her ancestors also immigrated to the U.S. from Bohemia, but settled farther east than my ancestors. We have five children: James C., Charles G., John E., Joan M., and Janice L.

   Charles married Donna Pallas and they have two children, Scott and Staci. Charles is a CPA with the Cooperative Service Co. Donna was previously employed at Farmland Industries, Inc. Hastings is their home.

   John married Pamela Hannah and they have a son, Chad. John is farming and Pam teaches at the Ithaca school. They live in the house in which I grew up.

   Joan is employed at Donnelley Marketing in Lincoln.

   Jim is attending SCOMR in Wahoo and Janice is in the eighth grade.

   Having lived in this area all of my life, I continue to be involved in local functions. Serving as school treasurer for 40 years, local ASC member, township clerk 20 years, an advisory board member for the SCOMR program, and member of the PEC committee for Regional V, to list a few.

   Our family attends the Czech Presbyterian Church and have served as Sunday School teacher, Elders, treasurers and other offices.

   All of our children attended the school Dist. 87, which my father and I attended. My mother was a teacher there, as well as two of my sisters.

   My wife and I enjoy our three grandchildren who make sixth-generation members of our forefathers who immigrated to this country and helped establish the present Czech Presbyterian Church. By Mr. and Mrs. James H. Trutna

   Rob was born in Lincoln, Ne. July 27, 1948. Rob's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Trutna of Valparaiso, Nebr. Rob has one brother, Tom, who is married to Anona (Houfek) Trutna. They have two children, Christina, 13 and Michael, 11.

Back Row, L. to R.: Beverly, Carrie, and Robert Trutna; Front Row: Erin and Robbie, Apr. 1982.

   Rob's father was born in Wahoo, March 18, 1906. His mother was born near Cleburne, Kansas. They were married Nov. 21, 1943. Ten years prior to their marriage, Rob's dad bought 80 acres southwest of Valparaiso, where he moved in 1935.

   In 1947 and 1948, Rob's dad then purchased two, 160-acre tracts, ½ mile northwest of the former mentioned homesite, which was then sold. Rob's brother, Tom, lives on the east 160 acre tract, and Rob and his family live on the west 160 acres.

   Rob graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1966. After graduation he enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard. After six years of service as a cook he had to leave to help on the farm.

   Rob is currently serving his third year as an Elder in our church, the Czech Presbyterian Church. His term will end in Dec., 1982. He is also on the Board of Directors for Farmers Union Co-op of Saunders Co.

   Rob's hobbies include carpentry, bowling, and model trains.

   Rob and his wife, formerly Beverly Snyder from Wahoo, met Feb. 28, 1976 and were married May 8, 1976.

   Bev was born in Altoona, Pa. June 30, 1949. Because of the shortage of jobs in the East her

page 446