FAMILY STORIES

family moved to Wahoo in 1961. Bev graduated from Wahoo High School in 1967, after which she sought employment. Her first job was with Platte Valley Foods in Wahoo. From there she took employment at Western Electric in Omaha, where she worked for 6½ years until she and Rob were married.

   Bev's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Edward Snyder of Wahoo. She has two sisters: Debra Winchell of Wahoo, who has two children, Jessica, 9, and Billy, age 3; and her other sister is Judy Tomcak of Loveland, Colo. Judy is married to Dan Tomcak formerly from Schuyler, Ne. They are expecting their first child in May. Bev also has one brother, Ed Snyder, currently living in Buena Park, California. Ed and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters, Julie, age 8, and Stacey, age 5.

   Bev is a Watkins dealer and is a very busy homemaker. Her hobbies include sewing, gardening, and different types of handcrafts.

   Bev and Rob have three children, Carrie, age 6, Robbie, age 4 and Erin, age 2.

   Carrie is in kindergarten at Raymond Central School (the Valparaiso building.) She also takes dance lessons in Lincoln once a week at Eldene Pershing's School of Dance. Carrie and Robbie attend Sunday School at the Czech Presbyterian Church where their family attends regularly. Erin, being too young to be involved in these activities just keeps everyone hopping.

   Rob and his family hope to continue the heritage of farming, a most important and vital way of American life. By Robert Trutna

   My parents came from Bohemia. They settled on a farm 3 miles southwest of Wahoo, Nebr. Here is where I was born on March 18, 1906 -- the last of 6 children. I attended School District 87 for 3 years. Then it was closed for lack of students. I went to North Ward for 4 years, 1 year to District 71, where my sister Albina taught. I went 2 years to Wahoo High School but had to quit to do farm work.

   After the death of my parents, I batched a few years. In 1933, I bought 80 acres southwest of Valparaiso and moved there in 1935. I picked corn in Iowa to make payments.

   Being a bachelor wasn't the kind of life I had exactly planned but things brightened up when I met Otilla Musil of Waterville, Kansas. She was the daughter of Frank and Winnie (Nykodeem) Musil. We got married Nov. 21, 1943 at Irving, Kansas -- that town is now in Tuttle Creek Dam.

   I rented land close by and had the same landlady for 40 years. In 1948, we purchased 160 acres of pasture. Later the same year, we purchased the adjoining 160 acres, which place we moved to on Febr. 5, 1949. The lady we bought the land from, loaned me money for 2% interest. The next day after we moved the roads drifted shut and we were blocked in for 6 weeks. I rode horseback to town for groceries.

   Otilla attended country school, graduated from Waterville High School in 1932. Many times she had to walk 3 miles to school as roads were so muddy the old Model-T Ford couldn't make it. She attended her 50th class reunion this year.

   We purchased 80 acres from Frank Pekarek only to have NRD take 40 acres for Recreation and Dam. We bought 5 acres from Bertha Adams for us to retire on and which we put a Modular Home on. Later, we purchased the rest of the 120 acres.

   Otilla has been President of Czech Ladies for many years, of which she has been an active member for 30 years. She was Sunday School Superintendent, directed Senior Choir. Together we have held offices in Mariners. She crochets, makes quilts, rugs, and does baking.

   I was on the building committee of Czech Church, served several years as Elder and held other offices. I have been bowling for over 25 years, but as yet haven't broken any records.

   For our entertainment in my younger days, we played baseball nearly every Sunday afternoon at my brother Charlie's place. Many windows were broken and replaced in the house.

   I served many years on schoolboard of District 81, which is now joined with District 115. Submitted by Stanley Trutna

   Tom and I both originated in Saunders County. His parents, Stanley and Otilla Trutna, visited with my parents, Raymond and Cecilia Houfek of Prague, from the time I was in seventh grade. Tom and I began dating when he was going to leave for basic training in the Army National Guard in 1963.

Left to Right: Anona, Michael, Tom and Christie Trutna.

   We were married in April of 1968 and came to live in our home near Valparaiso. We decided to set up our mobile home on an abandoned farm which Tom's parents owned. Living near his folks, Tom was able to continue farming with his dad and brother. I was working for an insurance company in Lincoln and continued working until the following January. Heavy snows that winter made commuting very difficult and I decided to quit.

   In August of 1969, we had our first child, Christina, who was lots of fun for everyone, being the first grandchild and niece on both sides. In June of 1971, our second child, Michael, was born, and once again the first grandson and first nephew.

   Christie and Michael both enjoy music. Christie plays the flute and can play a few tunes on her Grandma Trutna's button accordion. Michael has begun taking trumpet lessons this year in school. They both enjoy swimming, also.

   Tom and I both try to keep involved with our children's school activities. I have been room mother several times. Both of us have taken a firm stand on some of the recent issues that have come up concerning the future of all of the students of our school district. We feel it is very important that every student benefit from decisions made by our school board.

   Tom enjoys farming and also enjoys working in his farm machine shop. He is active in the Army National Guard, enjoys helping on the volunteer fire and first aid, and is on the township board.

   I enjoy sewing, crocheting and various needlework projects. For the past year I have been babysitting for some friends of ours and our whole family enjoys their little boy very much. I also enjoy helping Tom with his shop projects when I can.

   We are members of the Wahoo Czech Presbyterian Church. Throughout our married life the church has been an important foundation for us. We enjoy being part of the church family and have, all four, taken an active part in the church. Tom and I both teach Sunday School and have held various offices in our Mariners organization. Tom has been an elder and was on our pulpit committee. I have taught Bible School for several years. This year our church is celebrating its centennial and we have had lots of fun getting ready for the various events we had during the year. I took on the project of making a scrapbook for the church, of all the events we had during the year. This has been an enjoyable learning experience. This year has been one we will always remember and cherish. Submitted by Anona L. Trutna

   Louis was born Feb. 1, 1907 to Thomas and Magdalen Bouc Tvrdy on a farm near Weston, Nebraska. He was the seventh child but the sixth son of a family of twelve.

Louis and Irene Tvrdy

   I, Irene, was born March 19, 1915 to Julius and Frances Zetocha on a farm in Newman township southwest of Weston. I was the first child of a family of seven.

   I attended country schools, first near Dwight, then Milford, and graduated from District 17 in Saunders County in 1928.

   Louis entered country school Dist. 32 for his K-8 grades and entered Weston High for his freshman thru junior years.

   Louis and I met on a blind date one Sunday afternoon in March, 1931 thru a girl friend. We were married Feb. 25, 1936. We started housekeeping on a rented 120-acre farm east of Valparaiso in a two-room house without electricity, no plumbing, a cob burning stove for cooking and wood burning heater. This was where our first child, Doris Ann, was born on Sept. 25, 1938.

   Little did we know what was ahead of us -- the depression and drouth. Farming with horses was no easy job but we kept on farming. In 1942 we were able to purchase a 160-acre farm in the same neighborhood. Here our sons, Kenneth and Richard, were born. As time passed on this farm was too small for a growing family. Louis purchased more land and moved his family to this farm. It is now occupied by our son, Richard, and wife, Jean.

   Our children attended K-8 grades in Dist. 49 in Rock Creek township and all three graduated from Valparaiso High. Doris attended Midland College in Fremont and taught rural schools in Saunders and Lancaster Counties for five years. She married Gene Petrzilka of Dwight on June 25, 1957 and they had a son, Steven and daughter, Deanna. Gene died May 18, 1973 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln.

   Kenneth was born Sept. 7, 1943 and married Patricia Shanahan on June 16, 1964. They are the

page 447

parents of four daughters, Barbara, Lenita, Julie and Sara.

   Richard was born July 15, 1964 and married Jean Gladhill formerly of Littlestown, Penn. on Nov. 7, 1980. Richard was in the Army from Nov. 1965 to 1967. He served a year in Vietnam as a Medic.

   Our boys are livestock and grain farmers, following the footsteps of their father.

   All our married life, we attended St. Mary's Catholic Church in Valparaiso. I am a member of St. Mary's Altar Society; also a member of Happy Homemakers Club for 35 years.

   In our later years we decided to take a few trips. We ventured out to the Black Hills, Bad Lands and to see the nation's capitol, Washington, D.C. It's a fast city, so much to see -- subways, White House and Arlington Cemetery, etc.

   We have come a long way, from dry land farming with horses to irrigation and tractor farming. We retired in 1981 and live in Valparaiso. Submitted by Irene Zetocha Tvrdy.

   Richard was born July 15, 1946 to Louis and Irene (Zetocha) Tvrdy of Valparaiso and attended District #49 through K-8 grades; then entered Valparaiso High School. After graduation he stayed to help his father farm before he was drafted into the Army in November, 1965. He served two years, one year of which was spent in Vietnam as a Medic. He was discharged November 1967. He returned home to help his father and brother, Kenneth, farm in Rock Creek township.

   During this period of his life, he met Jean Gladhill of Littlestown, Penn. who was a student attending John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo.

   Jean is the daughter of Robert and Margaret (Schneider) Gladhill of Littlestown, Penn. She has a twin brother, James and brothers Larry, Ronald, Mike, Dennis, Dwight and Scott, and a sister, Donna Rae. Her parents are of German and Irish descent.

   After graduation Jean started work at Hinky Dinky and at the present time she is the Manager of Home Center at the Wahoo Store.

   They were married Nov. 7, 1980 in St. John's Church, Weston. After a trip to the eastern states, they returned and set up housekeeping on a farm south of Weston. Jean's hobbies are softball, jogging, volleyball, cooking and television. By Irene J. Tvrdy

   Wilmer Ullstrom moved to Saunders County with his parents and brothers and sisters in the spring of 1888 when he was 11 years old. His parents, John Peter and Louisa Latting Ullstrom, came to America from Sweden in 1869, bringing their four oldest children and settling at Mt. Carroll, Illinois where they established a farm and blacksmith shop. When the family moved to Nebraska, they purchased land one-half mile east and two miles north of Memphis in Saunders County and farmed a total of 240 acres. John Peter also set up a blacksmith shop and taught his oldest sons blacksmithing.

   Wilmer Ullstrom attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, the Louis Institute in Chicago, and the Chicago Art Institute. He worked as a jewelry engraver in Chicago, Kansas City, and Denver before returning to Memphis where he established his own jewelry store. In 1909, he moved his business to Ashland where he sold jewelry and music as Ullstrom & Co. until 1930 when the great depression with its hard economic times saw the demise of many businesses, especially those dealing in luxury items.

   On June 27, 1917 Wilmer married Lola Anna Hendricks, daughter of Salathial P. and Elizabeth Jane Rude Hendricks. Salathial P. Hendricks had farmed for 40 years in Fillmore, Missouri. He and his wife and daughters moved to Ashland in 1910 because there was no high school in Fillmore. The other children had gone away to high school but Lola was the youngest and her mother would not let her go away to high school. Another daughter was teaching in Ashland and so the family moved to Ashland and lived at 1641 Clay Street so that Lola could graduate from high school.

Ullstrom and Co. Jewelry Store (1910-1916)

   Wilmer and Lola had four children. The first, Wilmer Bertin, died in infancy. The other three, Marjorie Helen (Colton), Dorothy Anne (Hodges), and Ila Faye (James), were raised in Ashland and graduated from Ashland High School.

   After the closing of the jewelry store, Wilmer Ullstrom did painting and decorating in the Ashland area. One outstanding project was the decorating of the Ashland Methodist Church. He designed and made stencils to decorate the interior of the sanctuary in keeping with the architecture of the church.

   The family moved from Ashland to Lincoln in 1945 to enable the youngest daughter to attend the University of Nebraska. Wilmer died in Lincoln in 1953 and Lola died in 1981.

   I have many happy memories of growing up in Ashland. I'll never forget being punished (deservedly) by Miss Linch (Mrs. Vance) for throwing paper wads in the fifth grade. The small school system gave us many opportunities to tryout our talents and we had some wonderful teachers who gave us a good foundation for our education. The stability of knowing the same people for many years is something that many of our children never experience today. I cherish the friendships of those early years and know that growing up in Ashland will always be an important part of me. Submitted by Ila Faye Ullstrom James

   Both Joe and I were born, raised, and lived our entire lives in Prague, Nebraska. Joe was born February 14, 1925 to Joe J. and Christina (Brecka) Urban and had a younger brother, Dennis. I was the oldest of 7 children and was born on February 26, 1925 to Charles and Clara (Kriz) Kaspar.

   Even though we both attended Prague Public School together, we did not get to know each other very well until after Joe's discharge from the Air Force in which he served for 3 years during World War II. We were married on January 27, 1948 at St. John's Catholic Church in Prague. It was 20 degrees below zero all day and in those days weddings were all day with a dance at night to the Ernie Kucera band.

   We are parents of 4 children. Robert, born August 31, 1949, died in infancy, and Dwayne, born November l, 1950, served 4 years in the Navy. After returning from his duties, he married Jezi (Loretta) Finkhouse of Norfolk on June 15, 1974. They now have a son and daughter. They live in Prague and Dwayne drives a Golden Sun Feed truck. Jezi works at the Bank of Prague. Debbie, our third, was born September 21, 1952 and attended Dental Assistant School in Lincoln. After finishing school, she married Ron Paseka and they have 3 daughters and 1 son. Donald, our fourth, was born July 16, 1957 and had been working at Land O'Lakes plant at Schuyler.

Joe C. Urban Family

   The children attended St. John's Catholic Grade School and graduated from Prague High School.

   We now have 6 precious grandchildren, Chad and Carley Urban and Sherri, Wendy, Amy, and Michael Paseka.

   Joe did carpenter work with his dad, worked for the Saunders County Highway Department of Roads, and then built trailer homes for Western Homes in North Bend. We attend St. John's Church, are members of the Prague American Legion and Auxiliary, and Joe is also a member of the Prague Fire Department. By Zdenka Urban

   The Vance family came to Ashland from Clinton County, Ohio, in 1876, by taking passage down the Ohio River, and then, boarding an upriver streamer on the Missouri. They landed at Plattsmouth and came by rail to Ashland to make their home -- James Nelson Vance, his wife, Demarius Vandeman, (daughter of William and Ellen Doak Vandeman), and their three children: Ella, who later married Herman Weston; Elmer, who married Stella Laughlin; and Ethel May, who became Mrs. Joe Weddell.

page 448