A transcription of pages 195-469,
Family Histories from the Verdigre Centennial Book
Thanks to the Verdigre Library and its volunteers for making this available.
 
The index below only includes the husband and wife for each family.
The maiden name for the wife is used if listed.
For other names, use the search on the Home Page.

Index's A-I, J-P, & Q-Z

FELIX AND ADELA CHVALA

On July 1, 1945, Felix and Adela Chvala opened Felix’s Café in the former White Corner Café which the Chvalas had purchased from Tony Scheinost. They opened to a full house because everyone in town was curious to see the male chef, something new for Verdigre. Also the C&NW Railroad was changing the tracks from light steel to heavy steel and the construction crew, composed of mostly Mexicans, all came to eat.

When the Chvalas moved in, there were no AC electrical or sewer hookups in the whole town of Verdigre.

After being in business awhile, Felix and Adela purchased the two northeast corner lots and buildings from Blanche Bruce. They cleared the land of its building and had a large (approximately 22’x60’) Quonset hut erected on four-foot footings. An old building already there served as an attached storeroom, and a small house behind (after much remodeling) became their new home. Equipment and supplies were moved on March 22, 1948, and the new Felix’s Café opened for business the next day, March 23, 1948. This one-day move of a business would not have been possible without the help of many relatives. Adela’s folks Kvida and Emma Tichy, her brother and wife Adolph and Helen Tichy, sisters and husbands Otto and Lucy Liska, Russell and Evelyn Olson, LaMonte and Emeline Kotrous, Felix’s aunt Marie Beck, and a host of friends and townspeople who helped.

To add to the confusion and excitement at this time, the Chvala’s first child, Linda Marie, was born on living. The following year , on living, they were blessed with a son Gary Lee. And last, but not least, the next year - on living - Felix and Adela’s second daughter, Deloris Ann, joined the family.

Business continued as usual during this time with train crews stopping in twice daily for meals and road crews plus the local folks becoming steady customers.

Felix and Adela bought lots from Joe Mastalir about 1960 and in 1961 started to build their new home. In January of 1962 they moved into their new home where they still reside.

The summer of 1967 brought the first flood through Felix’s Café. There was over an inch of water, plus an inch of mud (silt). With much support from the town, the Chvalas were able to clean things up and reopen for business in one day.

Felix’s Café was remodeled in 1971 with the ceilings being lowered and paneling put up.

After 29 years and 11 months, ill health forced the Chvalas to sell their life-long business to Vernon and Wilma Effle in 1974. In almost 30 years of business in Verdigre, the Chvalas had at least ten competitors.

Felix and Adela have made many friends in Verdigre and the surrounding area where they still live. Both are now retired, Adela recently after working eleven years as custodian at the Verdigre Public School. Felix also worked there part time.

Their oldest daughter, Linda, is married to Dale Miekle and they and their children, Jared and Addie, reside on a farm outside Creighton, Nebraska.

Gary Chvala is living in Spencer, Nebraska, where he is the head basketball coach and teaches at Spencer High School.

Their youngest daughter, Deloris, is married to Robert Maly and they and their three daughters, Regina, Brenda, and Marie, live in Omaha, Nebraska.

Felix is enjoying improved health and still manages to find time to go fishing. Adela enjoys taking care of the house and yard and being at home.

[pg 221 PHOTO The Felix Chvala family - front from left: Brenda Maly, Felix Chvala, Deloris Maly and daughter Marie Maly, Linda Meikle, Mrs. Felix [Adala] Chvala, and Addie Meikle; back: Regina Maly, Robert Maly, Gary Chvala, Dale Meikle, and Jared Meikle.

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