THOMAS AND MARTHA [HOUZVICKA] DVORAK
Thomas Dvorak, son of Joseph and Frances Dvorak, was born August 24,
1892, at Madison, Nebraska. He attended Madison Public School along
with one sister Kate and four brothers, Frank, William, John, and
Joseph.
Prior to April of 1917, he entered the service and served on the
Mexican border. He was sent home on a brief furlough and then was
drafted into the army at Camp Dodge, Iowa, for a short period of
training. He was then transferred to France where he participated in
World War I. While serving there he became partially disabled from
inhaling poisonous gas. Thomas was a veteran of foreign wars. After
his discharge from the service, he came back to Verdigre. On April
6, 1920, he was united in marriage at Creighton, Nebraska, to Martha
August Houzvicka, who was born February 5, 1898, to John and Terezie
(Donat) Houzvicka. Martha attended Verdigre Public School along with
her sister Antoinette and brothers, Louis, Victor, Jerry, and Otto
(who attended Creighton University at Omaha, and became a medical
doctor. He is now retired and lives in San Diego, California).
Thomas and Martha spent their entire married life farming in the
Verdigre area of Knox County. They had four children: Otto August,
born living; Marceline (Mrs. Vernon Sonder), born living; Delores (Mrs. Arthur Wantlin), born
living, and Darlene,
born October 9, 1934, and passed away at the age of 16 in May of
1950.
In 1947 Thomas and Martha retired from the farm west of Verdigre and
moved to Creighton, Nebraska, where he was employed by Wunderlich
Jewelry as a watch and clock repairman. He worked there until his
death on July 18, 1961. After her husband’s death, Martha moved back
to Verdigre to be closer to her family. She enjoyed gardening and
visiting friends. When her health failed, she entered Alpine Village
retirement center on January 16, 1979, where she died November 11,
1984.
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