JOHN AND LYDIA [HANZLIK] KOUNOVSKY, JR.
John Kounovsky, Jr., was born January 13, 1896, at Pischelville to
John F. and Anna (Vesely) Kounovsky. On September 5, 1922, he
married Lydia J. Hanzlik, at Center. She was born May 5, 1899 and
died April 28, 1973.
Lydia was the youngest of ten children born to Frank Hanzlik (June
1853-February 1924) and Elizabeth Pejsha (1852-1929). They were
married in 1877 and came from Bohemia to America in 1893.
Frank and Elizabeth Hanzlik’s other children were Joseph, John,
Marie (Mrs. Ladd Pavlik), Vaclav, Josephine (Mrs. Joseph Jaros),
Frank, Louis, and Emil.
John Kounovsky, Jr., attended school at Pischelville and Verdel
completing the tenth grade which was the highest grade available at
that time in Verdel. He was drafted into the Army during World War I
and served overseas with Co. ‘F.” 314 Motor Supply Train, 89th
Division.
After his marriage to Lydia Hanzlik, he farmed in Pischelville on
the homestead of his mother, Anna, until March 1939 when they
purchased the Jelen Store. It was some time during this period that
John trained to be a Council Oak Store manager. On June 2, 1939,
they had a party at the Jelen School for area residents. Some of the
specials at the store that day were 2 lbs. soda crackers for 13
cents, 2 lbs. raisins for 17 cents, and 10 lbs. potatoes for 19
cents.
[pg 304 PHOTO John and Lydia J. [Hanzlik] Kounovsky]
In the fall of 1943 they moved to Verdigre and operated the Omaha
Cold Storage Cream Station for a year.
John, Jr., worked at the John E. Pavlik Hardware Store that John E.
purchased from the Svobodas. When the hardware store was disbanded,
he returned to the skill of his youth - carpentry - which he
practiced until his retirement.
John, Jr., and Lydai Kounovsky were the parents of three children:
John L., Irene (Mrs. Lawrence Sandoz), and Elizabeth A. (Mrs. James
L. Moravec).
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