FAMILY STORIES

William Zinke Farmhouse Sept. 1922. Left to Right: Oliver, G. Irene, Clifford, Lois.

daughter of the Rev. William and Sophie Frey, who had moved to an acreage directly north of Ithaca.

   To "Bill and Lottie" were born four children -- Oliver Frey (Abilene, Kansas), Georgia Irene (San Diego, California), Clifford Clinton (Rosalia, Washington), and Lois Lucille (Leshara, Nebraska). Charlotte lived to the age of 94 years, dying July 18, 1980. Her last six years were spent with her daughter, Lois, and family. Lois was the only child of "Bill and Lottie" to make her permanent home in Saunders County.

   Lois has been in the education field for thirty years, serving in various schools in Saunders County. She was married to Elmer Wollen at Ithaca, July 28, 1946. They moved to Leshara in 1950 where Lois now resides, Elmer having died on May 19, 1982 from a kidney disorder. To Elmer and Lois three children were born; Judith Kay (Butler) of Lincoln, Joyce Ann (Jones) of Papillion, and Jack Ray of Yutan.

   Again, only one child chose to stay in Saunders County. Jack lived on a farm two miles south of Leshara and has elected farming as his vocation, believing, as did his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather, that the strength of a country lies in its farmers. Submitted by Lois Zinke Wollen

   After Joseph's marriage to Frances Treblik in 1895, they remained living in Cedar Hill where their first two children, Frank and Mary, were born.

   Later, leaving Saunders County, they moved to Butler County and settled on a farm a mile south of the Dwight-Ulysses corner. It was here that their sons, Joseph F. and Edward, were born.

   In later years they made their final move to a farm near Ulysses -- the farm on which Edward still lives.

   Joseph and Frances had a good, full life here in America, but naturally they often thought of their parents and the possible trouble they might have caused by their leaving them behind. Always hoping and dreaming they would see their parents and friends in the "Old Country" again, they feared for their safety, as conditions in Europe prevented their trying to correspond or communicate with their family. As it was, Joseph and Frances departed from this world, never fulfilling their dream of seeing their family once again.

   Joseph John Zitek died at their home near Ulysses after a fatal fall from a tree on March 2, 1932. His wife, Frances, lived with their children until the time of her death on October 29, 1949.

   Frank, the oldest son of Joseph and Frances Zitek, was born in 1895. On November 18, 1919, he and Rose Trojan were married in Dwight. Frank and Rose were the proud parents of four children. They are: Margaret (Mrs. Art Schaefer) of Garland, Nebraska, Martha (Mrs. George Demuth) of Staplehurst, Edwin of Dwight, and Leo who lives in Omaha. Rose passed away in 1963 and Frank died in 1964.

   Joseph F., the second son of Joseph and Frances, was born in 1903. He married Rose Rech in Dwight on January 19, 1926. To them were born four children: Joseph E., who married Delores Bartunek and farms the "home place" near Ulysses; Valerian, who married Patty Nantkes, and lives in Lincoln; and Kenneth, who married Marietta Klein,and lives in Littleton, Colorado. Marcella, their only daughter, died as a young child after a fatal mishap. After retiring from farming, Joe and Rose were living in Lincoln at the time of Joe's death on December 3, 1979.

   Edward, the youngest of the family is the only remaining member of the J.J. Zitek family. He still lives on the "home place" after marrying Anna Krska in Dwight on May 4, 1932. Their three sons are living in Nebraska. Fritz farms near Staplehurst, Marvin lives near Ulysses, and Eugene is a Lincoln resident.

   Mary, the only daughter of Joseph and Frances Zitek, married Ernest G. Sabata on September 1, 1921. Mary passed away March 21, 1980, leaving her husband, Ernest, who still lives in Dwight, and four daughters -- Lois (Mrs. Richard Smith of Camp Springs, Maryland); Marie (Mrs. Tony Krenk of Fort Wayne, Indiana); Joanne (Mrs. A.R. "Hammie" Shonka of Wichita, Kansas); and Janet (Mrs. Dennis Spurgeon of Gretna, Nebraska). Joanne Sabata Shonka

   Economical and political conditions were not the best in Bohemia, Austria Empire, in 1872, the year Joseph John Zitek was born. His parents, Michael Zitek and Mary Mraz Zitek, hoped for a better life for their children. They often spoke of the many opportunities offered in the "New World."

   When Joseph was 18 years old, his dreams of escaping the pressures of the times materialized. He, along with his 12-year-old brother, Michael, and their sister, Anna, who was 9, departed for America. Imagine an 18 year old boy taking on the responsibility of a 12 and a 9-year-old on a trip across the ocean, with no one to greet them and no place to go upon their arrival! As yet we have found no proof that any one else accompanied them. It appears they travelled alone, the three of them.

   With no job to guarantee them food and shelter here, they braved the hardships of the pioneers and settled in a small community of Cedar Hill, just east of Linwood. There Joseph met Frances Treblik who, in 1874, had also been born in Moravia. In 1895, they were married in Cedar Hill.

   Meantime, Michael, Joseph's brother, moved to Butler County and on June 18, 1906, married Mary A. Hotovy, daughter of Mat and Annie Urbanek Hotovy, at Dwight. Michael passed away in 1923 and is buried in the Dwight Cemetery.

   Anna, Joseph's sister, also moved to Butler County. On January 19, 1903, she married Peter Hayek, son of Anton and Barbara Nemecek Hayek.

   On Frances' side of the family, we find her father, Frank Treblik, born in 1834 and her mother, Mary Navrkal Treblik, born in 1842, arrived in America in 1882. To this union were born 6 girls and one boy. The only son, Frank Ernest, married Laura Sorenson on December 17, 1886, in Wahoo. Following the marriage they moved to Goodland, Kansas, where they were still living at the time of his death in 1929.

   Rose, married to J.C. Rezac, had 5 daughters and 2 sons. The Rezacs moved to Abercrombie, South Dakota.

   Anna, Mrs. Fred Melotz, lived in Omaha, Nebraska.

   Mary, who was born in 1877, married Joseph Disney in Lincoln in the year of 1907. They moved to Lodgepole, Nebraska where they were still living at the time of his death in 1947 and hers in 1959. They are both buried in Sidney, Nebraska.

   Tonie and Walter Martin were married in David City on July 2, 1900. Tonie was the first in the family to die and is buried in Sidney, Nebraska.

   Frances and Josephine chose to live in Butler County. Josie, born in 1884, married Frank Styskal, who was born in 1879. They moved to David City and were living there at the time of his death in 1968 and her death in 1971. They had no children.

   Frances, as was stated before, married Joseph John Zitek and this starts another generation's story. Joanne Sabata Shonka

   Lester Zwiebel was the second of five children born to Edwin and Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Seefus) Zwiebel near Waterloo, Nebraska. He received his education at District #24 and Valley High School, graduating in 1932 at the age of 16.

Front: Vernette and Les Zwiebel; Back, L. to R: Jean, Nancy and Virginia. note: this seems to be the wrong picture, but is the one that is in the book.

   He was employed by Nebraska Power Company on a line crew, by Johnson Hardware, and by John Denker Chevrolet of Valley for two years until it was sold to Roscoe Grant in 1947. He remained with the firm until late 1950 when he bought the garage business in Yutan.

   Lester married Vernette (Witte) November 25, 1939, at the home of her parents, Jesse and Marie (Moeller) Witte, who were celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversary that same day. They moved into their own home in Valley at that time and remained there until moving to Yutan on January 1, 1951. The Zwiebels have three daughters; Jeanne Lindell Thorne, Virginia Behrens, Nancy Kruse Kennedy, and nine grandchildren.

   While living in Valley, Lester served on the Village Board, Volunteer Fire Department and was Boy Scout Leader. He was also the first "King of Alluvia," an annual celebration held there.

   The well-being of our community has always been an important part of the Zwiebel's lives.

   They joined St. John's Lutheran Church in 1955. Lester has served on the Church Council and numerous committees. He is chairman of the Stewardship Committee at the present time.

   Lester joined the Yutan Volunteer Fire Department in March of 1951. He spent 19 years as Fire Chief and is still an active member. In 1981, he received special recognition for 30 years of service to the department.

   Lester was a member of the Village Board for 16 years, two of which were served as Mayor of Yutan.

   Vernette, her brother, George, and sister, Alice (Seefus), were born on a farm three miles east of Elkhorn, Nebraska in the same house in which her father and his eight brothers and sisters were born. She received her education in District #28 Grade School and Elkhorn and Valley High Schools, graduating in 1934.

   Vernette has been a member of the Lutheran Church Women as long as it has been in existence and, before that, its predecessor, The Ladies Aid, having served as its treasurer a number of years.

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Vernette is a member of the Yutan Garden Club, and both she and Lester are active in the Senior Citizens 60+ Club, Yutan Community Club, Yutan Historical Society, and the Saunders County Historical Society.

   Since his retirement from the garage business, Lester has been Food Carrier for Yutan Senior Citizens, transporting food from Wahoo to Yutan three days a week, and the School Bus Maintenance Man for Yutan School District #9.

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