JOSEPH AND THERESIA [CEK] [MAY] KURKA
Joseph Kurka, the oldest child and son of Wenzel and Machtilda Kurka,
was born February 4, 1852, in Grosslippen, Bohemia. His boyhood days
were spent in that country. In 1871, at the age of 19, he left
Bohemia in company with his parents and a group of friends who had
decided to try their luck in the land of the free. Kurka took up a
homestead about twelve miles northwest of Verdigre and continued to
reside there until 1915 when they retired from the farm and took up
residence in Verdigre. Here he lived until his death on December 26,
1931.
In 1881, Joseph was united in marriage to Theresia (Cek) May.
Theresia Cek was born January 15, 1851, daughter of Wenzel and
Teresia Cek. She, too, was born in Grosslippen, Bohemia. In 1869 she
was married to Frank May, and in 1872, together with her husband,
their child, and her parents, she immigrated to America and located
in New Haven, Connecticut. A year later they moved to Knox County
and settled near what is now known as the Dukeville community. To
Frank and Theresia were born five children, one dying in infancy.
They were Mary (May) Wright, Carl, Emma (May) Van Buren, and
Mathilda (May) Dietz. Frank May died in 1879.
After the marriage of Joseph and Theresia Cek May on March 19, 1881,
the newlyweds lived on his homestead. Their first home was of logs
which he cut along the Niobrara River. He often related how the
drought and grasshoppers took everything the farmers raised. He
built a fine house, as well as other buildings, on his farm.
[pg 313 PHOTO Back row, from left: Joseph Kurka [grandpa], Bertha
Tusha [daughter], Theresa Kurka [grandma], Rose Schreier [daughter],
Frank Kurka [son], and John Sucha, friend; front: Anton Tuerkon
[distant relative], Ernest Kurka [son], Wenzel Kurka
[great-grandfather] holding Rosa Kurka [wife of Frank who is holding
their son Wencel], Julia Sukup [daughter]]
One large barn was completely finished and ready for the painter
when a tornado picked it off the farmyard and carried it across the
river. It was left a mass of splinters. His teams, cattle, and hired
man John Sucha were in the barn at the time, and fortunately, all
were safe and unharmed.
After living 34 years on this farm, he decided to retire. In 1915
Mr. and Mrs. Kurka moved to Verdigre to spend their remaining years.
Mr. Kurka was always active, kept a fine garden and had a beautiful
yard with all kinds of flowers. Joseph Kurka was known for his fine
team of bay-colored ponies and made many enjoyable trips back to the
site of the homestead to visit with friends and their families and
his children in the community. Each winter he chopped a supply of
wood for his stoves.
Joseph died December 26, 1931, and Theresia died January 12, 1943.
Both are buried in St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery, Verdigre.
Children born to Joseph and Theresia May Kurka were Frank Joseph,
Ernest, Fred, Bertha, Rose, and Julia.
Frank Joseph Kurka, son of Joseph and Theresia Cek Kurka, was born
September 11, 1881, and died May 28, 1961. He was married to Rosie
Marshall on November 16, 1903. Rosie, a daughter of Ignatz Marshall,
Jr., was born February 1882 and died March 7, 1916. Their children
were Wenzel Frank Kurka, born 1909, and Rosie Kurka, born 1915.
Ernest William Kurka, second child born to Joseph and Theresia May
Kurka was born December 26, 1882. He married Albina Schreier and
their children were Martha and Esther.
Fred Kurka was born April 23, 1884, and died of diphtheria.
Bertha Kurka was born September 7, 1886, and died at Creighton,
Nebraska. She married Rudolph Tusha on December 18, 1905. Their
children were: Edward, Lydia, Marvin, twins Venice and Viola, and
Gaynelle.
Rose, the fifth child of Joseph and Theresia, was born September 7,
1888, at Dukeville, Nebraska. She married Victor Schreier in 1907.
Rose later married Max Randa.
Julia Lavinia Kurka, the youngest of the Joseph Kurka family, was
born April 24, 1891, at Dukeville. She married John Sukup on April
18, 1910. He was a son of Andrew and Maria Sedivy Sukup of Walnut,
Nebraska. Their children were: Rose Marie Sukup born March 28, 1911;
Julia Carol Sukup born February 22, 1912; John Andrew Sukup born
September 16, 1913; Walter Theodore Sukup born February 18, 1916;
Adolph Joseph Sukup born January 10, 1918; and Deloris Evelyn Sukup
born January 22, 1922.
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