Wenzel Sukup, 95,
Town's Oldest Man Passes Away Sunday
Married in Niobrara Over 60 Years Ago;
Funeral Held Wednesday at St. Ludger Church
Wenzel Sukup, whose 95 years gave him the distinction of being
Creighton's oldest resident, died at his home Sunday morning at
2:50. He became bedfast just six days before, when he suffered a hip
injury in a fall and his condition steadily grew worse.
Funeral services were held at St. Ludger Catholic church Wednesday
morning at 9 o'clock with the pastor, Rev. Father Windolph,
officiating. Relatives and friends from a wide area where present
for the last rites. Interment was made in St. Ludger cemetery, in
the same lot in which his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Frank Sukup, was
buried four days before.
The passing of Mr. Sukup takes from the community one of the few
remaining pioneers, who came to this section over 60 years ago. He
was preceded to this county by two brothers, Andrew and John, who
came in 1870, he following in 1871. [Brothers, Wenzel and Andrew,
immigrated together. Landing in New York April 8, 1870 on the ship
“Main”. John Johann stayed in Bohemia.]
He was born just across the Bohemian border in Germany, near
Ronsperk, Bohemia, September 28, 1841 and was 95 years, two months
and 29 days old on the day of his death, December 27, 1936. The
woman he was to marry, Barbara Ducek [Dusek], came to this country
in 1874 and June 30, 1975, they were united in marriage at Niobrara.
They lived for a brief time at Norfolk, then took a timber claim in
west Knox county, near where the present Walnut post office is
located.
Their first house was of logs with earthen floor. Hardships were the
common lot. Three successive years grasshoppers destroyed the crops
and often marauding Indians visited the homestead and made off with
everything edible from poultry to garden stuff. Hard work and
frugality finally, however, brought triumph over seemingly
insurmountable obstacles and later Mr. Sukup was able to buy a farm
northwest of Creighton.
Twenty-three years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Sukup moved to Creighton and
this was their home since. Last June they had been married 61 years,
which made them Creighton's longest married couple.
Besides his wife, twelve grandchildren, several great grandchildren
and many friends, Mr. Sukup leaves to mourn his passing, three sons
and two daughters. They are Andrew, Frank and Joseph, all of
Creighton; Miss Marie, who has been making her home with her parents
and Mrs. Anna Kolar of Sioux City.
A third daughter, Teresa, preceded her father in death about 15
years ago. Also preceded him in death were his five younger brothers
and sisters. One of the brothers, Andrew, an early day blacksmith
here, was one of Knox county's best know pioneers and largest land
owner.
...The Creighton News 31 Dec 1936
