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

THE KAREL KOVANDA FAMILY

Karel Kovanda was born in Bohemia in 1847 and died in 1893. Married in Bohemia, he chose Anzela Herth for his bride. She was born in 1857 in Bohemia and died in 1911. Both are buried at Pischelville, Verdigre. They were the parents of Thomas, Josie, Karel, Josef, and Antonia.

Thomas J. Kovanda was born in Teresov, Czechoslovakia, on March 17, 1875. He came to the United States at the age of five years with his parents, brothers, and sister. The family came directly to Nebraska and settled in Knox County in the Pischelville area. It was here that he grew up. On November 20, 1907, he was united in marriage at Butte, Nebraska, to Marie Vesely. Her family also resided in the Pischelville community. A few months after their marriage, Mr. Kovanda and his bride moved to Verdel, Nebraska, where he was drayman for one year, and then for one year at Niobrara, Nebraska. They moved back to the Pischelville community where Thomas was engaged in farming the rest of his life. Thomas was a member of the Bohemian Fraternal Association. They were the parents of Lottie, Walter, Thomas, Frank, and Della. Thomas died in April of 1941. Marie died October 13, 1959. Cancer claimed both their lives and they are buried at the Pischelville Cemetery, Verdigre, Nebraska.

Lottie Kovanda (1908-1909) was buried at the Pischelville Cemetery, Verdigre.

Walter Kovanda was born near Pischelville, Nebraska, August 12, 1910, and died of cancer May 28, 1970. He is buried at the Pischelville Cemetery.

Thomas Kovanda was born October 2, 1913, near Pischelville, and died April 13, 1978. He was buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Riverton, Wyoming, to Dorothy Suverkrubbe.

Frank Kovanda was born March 30, 1915, on a farm 1˝ miles west of Pischelville. He grew up on the farm with his parents and family and attended District 7 school. He was employed on a farm for several years. Frank Vesely and Frank Kovanda were two of the first volunteers for the Army in February of 1940. He spent time on the West Coast and in the Pacific Islands. He received a medical discharge in December of 1944. On August 19, 1946, Frank married Marcella Ruzicka at Pierce, Nebraska. They lived in Creighton, Nebraska, where Frank was employed by Knox County as patrol operator until 1950. They then moved to a farm five miles southwest of Verdigre.

In 1953 they bought the original Herb VanBuren farm five miles northwest of Verdigre where they resided until November of 1977. They had a farm sale and moved into the new home they built in Verdigre in their spare time. Frank was employed part time by the Knox County ASCS Office from 1934 to 1984.

[pg 305 PHOTO Dale Kovanda]

He was also secretary for District 40 for many years. Frank liked carpentry, traveling, reading, and playing cards.

Marcella was born living, near Pischelville at the farm home of her parents, Henry and Marion Ruzicka. Helping with whatever was needed on the farm, Marcella also attended rural school District 46. She started working at an early age at the White Corner Café, V. W. Marshall Store at Verdigre, and Al Radez and Gentzler’s Café and Bakery at Creighton, Nebraska. Since 1970 Marcella has been employed at Verdigre in the Livestock Market Café.

Frank and Marcella were the parents of Kenneth Frank, Raymond Frank, and Dale Lee.

Kenneth Frank Kovanda was born July 1, 1952, and lived 18 hours. He died July 2, 1952, and was buried at Pischelville Cemetery, Verdigre, Nebraska.

Raymond Frank Kovanda was born living, at the Plainview Hospital, Plainview, Nebraska. He attended rural school District 40 and graduated from Verdigre Public School in 1971. He was active in band and FFA and spent most of his life farming near Verdigre with his parents. Raymond was employed by the Verdigre Livestock Market and Creighton Electric, Creighton, Nebraska. On June 30, 1973, Raymond married Candy Hergert of Verdigre at the; United Methodist Church, Verdigre. Raymond lost his life enroute to work at Creighton on November 6, 1974, when he was overcome by carbon monoxide causing a pickup-truck accident. He was buried at Royal Cemetery, Royal, Nebraska.

Dale Lee Kovanda was born living, at Creighton. He attended his first year of school at District No. 40 and then enrolled at Verdigre Public School, graduating with high honors with the class of 1978. Dale lived with his parents on a farm five miles northwest of Verdigre and was still at home at the time of their move to Verdigre in 1977. Dale was active in football and basketball. During the summers he was employed on a farm and part time with the Knox County ASCS. Dale attended the University at Lincoln for four years. Since August of 1984 he has been executive director for the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service of Nuckolls County at Nelson, Nebraska. Dale enjoys fast pitch softball, playing with the Verdigre teams for several seasons and most recently with the ball team at Oak, Nebraska.

Della Kovanda was born April 10, 1917, near Pischelville, Nebraska. She married Bernard Hajek at Center, Nebraska, May 4, 1946. They were the parents of Ronald and John. Della died of cancer on January 8, 1962, and is buried at Highland Cemetery, Lynch.

Thomas J. Kovanda’s brothers and sisters were:
Josie Kovanda, adopted, was born December 13, 1875. She married John Dobrichovsky. Both are buried at the Pischelville Cemetery.

Karel Kovanda was born in 1882 and died in 1896 at 14 years of age. He is buried at Pischelville.

Josef Kovanda was born in 1884 and died at 17 years from gunshot wounds in an accident in 1901. He is buried at Pischelville Cemetery.

Antonia Kovanda was born in 1890. On January 19, 1908, she married Frank Cuhel, who was born October 29, 1876. Antonia died July 14, 1949, and Frank died August 20, 1950. Both are buried at Pischelville Cemetery. They were the parents of Luie, who is deceased, Otto and Emil.

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