FRANK AND MARY [VECERA] HAVLICEK
Frank Havlicek, a son of John and Frantiska Opocensky Havlicek, was
born three miles north of Verdigre on December 23, 1875.
When he was 19, he took a course at Fremont Business College. In
1895 he taught the Tichy school in Sparta Township, and then he took
a position in the Niobrara store of Fred Opocensky’s. After 1 ½
years he resigned to work in the George Saunder’s store in Verdigre.
He and Opocensky bought out Saunders. After a year, Oscar Gross took
over Opocensky’s share in the business. Gross sold out in turn to
Joseph Vecera, Sr., Frank Havlicek’s father-in-law. In 1909 Vecera
turned over his interest in the store and the ownership of the lots
and building to his son Joseph. The store was known as Havlicek and
Vecera until 1929.
The store was in the wood building put up by Albert Pavlik and John
Markitan on Lot 8 of Block 15 after the fire of 1892 destroyed the
Nedorost-Pavlik store.
On October 10, 1901, Havlicek married Mary Frances Vecera, the
daughter of Joseph and Frances Lapesh Vecera. The couple had three
children, Dr. Theodore, Gordon, and Marie.
He served on the school board for twenty years and was a member of
the construction committee building the new school. At the time of
his death on March 1, 1929, he was vice chairman of the Chamber of
Commerce. He was also a charter member of the Verdigre Military
Band. He served on the township board and was affiliated with the
Woodmen of the World.
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