THE JOSEPH DOBRICHOVSKY FAMILY
Joseph Dobrichovsky was born in Czechoslovakia in the city of
Jastrabi Hlota on April 5, 1880. When he was one year old, his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Dobrichovsky, immigrated to the United
States with his brothers Jim and John and sisters, Mary, Katie, and
Rosie. Joseph was the youngest.
[pg 229 PHOTO Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dobrichovsky]
His family came to Nebraska and settled in Knox County where he grew
to manhood. Joseph learned how to plow and the art of agriculture.
He attended school and learned that even he, too, might someday
become a part of the free people’s government. At that time, little
did he dream he would become a civic leader in his community.
When Joseph was 27 years old, he was united in marriage on March 27,
1907, to Mary Tuch who also came from sturdy pioneer parentage. The
young couple established a home on the farm and to this union seven
children were born. Together they met sadness and disappointments of
life as well as its rewards as they took on the humble tasks of
life. They faced the sorrow of the death of the twin babies, and on
June 21, 1935, hand in hand, they met the sad news of the accidental
death of their youngest son, Otto, 15. With the true spirit of a
pioneer, they lifted their eyes to heaven and found solace and
comfort.
Joseph was a leader in his community and led with honor and love. He
was president of the Farmers Union Local No. 197 for 28 years; he
was a member of the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association Lodge No.
8 at Pischelville for 31 years, having served in every office in the
lodge. He was the AAA Committeeman in his community and was an
officer in Western Township for many years.
Mary J. (Tuch) Dobrichovsky was born July 4, 1889, in Pischelville,
Nebraska, to Frank and Marie Tuch. Her brothers and sisters included
George, Frank, Bessie, Agnes, Emma, and Pauline; Mary was the
youngest. She spent her girlhood and attended district school in
this community. Mary spent much of her childhood herding cattle, and
under her mother’s guidance, learned the tasks of homemaking. She
was a member of the Pischelville ZCBJ Lodge Sladovsky No. 8 for 63
years.
The loving children who kept Joseph and Mary’s lives full and
meaningful are son Walter, a John Deere Dealer for 25 years who now
has the Farm Heater and Chain Saw Sales and repair business;
daughter Charlotte (Mrs. Edward L. Pavlik) deceased, who was a very
dedicated wife, mother and homemaker, son Frank, a farmer who
resides on the homestead that was farmed by his parents, (this farm
has been in the family over 100 years), and daughter Evelyn (Mrs.
Edward Hass), who with her husband owned and operated the Verdigre
Bakery for 26 years (and are now retired).
The immediate family of Walter and Blanche (Bartak) Dobrichovsky
includes daughter Shirley (Dobrichovsky) Thompson, grandchildren
Lori (Thompson) Pierce and Kathi (Thompson) Liska, and
great-grandchildren Brett and Staci Pierce.
Edward and Charlotte (Dobrichovsky) Pavlik’s family includes sons
Donald and Jerry and a deceased daughter Mary Jean (Pavlik) Coutts;
grandchildren Earline Hawk Oltjenbruns, Kenneth Hawk (deceased),
Donna, Debra, twins Dean and Dennis Pavlik, children of the Donald
Pavliks and Randy, Brian and Deanna Pavlik children of the Jerry
Pavliks. Rodney, Robert and Rhonda (Coutts) Zuhlke are the children
of Mary Jean (Pavlik) Coutts; great-grandchildren are Andy and Katie
Pavlik and Colin Lee Zuhlke.
Frank and Florence (McColley) Dobrichovsky’s family includes
daughter Sharon (Dobrichovsky) Boham and grandsons Douglas and
Curtis Boham.
Edward and Evelyn (Dobrichovsky) Hass had a daughter Neva Jean who
died in infancy.
Yes, the traditions held fast and strong in these pioneer families
of the 1800s - their true spirit of hard work and endurance will not
go unnoticed in the generations to come.
Joseph passed away June 19, 1942, at the age of 62, and Mary passed
away on June 9, 1974, at the age of 86.
-Submitted by Shirley Thompson
Pages
228, 229
