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

ADOLPH AND LOU [BROWN] SKOKAN

Adolph, the youngest child of Frank and Anna Safarik Skokan, was born July 10, 1894. He moved into the town of Niobrara with his parents when they left their family farm. After their deaths, he lived with his sisters and graduated from high school in 1914.

On May 26, 1918, he enlisted in the army and served with the 338th Field artillery stationed at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and later in France near Bordeaux. He served as clerk and became a member of the band. Music was one of his great loves and he told of having to practice in an outside shed in his youth because his parents didn’t enjoy listening to him. At Camp Dodge he told about attending a dance where the band was playing. The clarinet player put his instrument down. Adolph picked it up and played several numbers. The next morning he was assigned to the band. He loved it.

He played all of his life and was active in the Niobrara Concert and Marching Band. He also organized a dance orchestra which specialized in Czech music. This orchestra played throughout Nebraska and South Dakota. His children and grandchildren played with him. Dean, his son, was a four year trumpet player with the University of Nebraska Band and served as the group’s president in 1946-47.

Adoph married Lou Brown on June 29, 1918. They bought a small general merchandise store when he returned from World War I, financing it with money from the sale of land his parents had left him. Later they purchased a larger store where together they ran a successful business for forty years. He was active in the civic affairs of Niobrara. As a young man he played baseball with the town team and later also enjoyed golf when the Niobrara State Park opened. He was an avid hunter and today his grandson, Paul Grosscup, hunts with the gun he used. He spent much time boating and fishing around Niobrara.

Adolph and Lou had two children: a daughter, Barbara Jane, born on living, and a son, Dean Frank, born on living. When Adolph’s brother, Frank, died, his son, Frank O., lived with Adolph and Lou until he left for World War II.

Jane and Dean grew up and graduated from Niobrara High School. Originally the family lived in quarters back of the family store which helped Lou who worked in the store as well as at home. Both children were active in community and school affairs. Jane played the piano for school and church as well as in Adolph’s orchestra. Dean also played in this orchestra as well as in the school and town bands. Frank played the saxophone. Practice was routine before school and after supper.

[pg 394 photo Adolph and Lou Skokan]

Jane graduated from Doane College with a B. A. degree and a teaching certificate in speech and English. While at Doane, she met Buford Grosscup whom she married after he received his naval commission during World War II. While Buford served as a commander of a P. T. Boat in the South Pacific, Jane returned to Niobrara and taught in the high school until Buford was discharged. In the fall of 1946, along with their daughter, Mary Lynn, they moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, where Buford started his teaching and coaching career. Later Buford took a teaching and coaching job in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he taught for 32 years, retiring in 1983. Two sons, Bryan David and Paul Gary, were born in living and living. Jane and Buford have two granddaughters: Jill Christine Wingrove living and Gretchen Erin Gross cup living and a grandson, Bradley James Grosscup living. Granddaughter Jill now practices her flute with the metronome her great-grandfather Adolph used.

Dean graduated from the University of Nebraska’s College of Business Administration. His studies were interrupted by World War II during which he served with the Tank Corps in Europe. He received a medical discharge after his toes were frozen in the Battle of the Bulge. While in California for his basic training, he met Marie May and they were married in August of 1945 after his discharge in July. He returned to the University, finished his studies and graduated. While at the University, Dean reactivated the men’s pep organization, the Corn Cobs, and served as the group’s president in 1946-47. Dean was also named Business Manager of the yearbook, “The Cornhuskear,” in 1946-47. Because of his scholarship and campus activities, Dean was in line to be tapped for Innocent’s Society, a senior men’s honorary, but because of the war the University suspended such recognition. Dean and Marie returned to Niobrara where Dean went into the family business with Adolph, eventually assuming full ownership. He also operated an insurance agency and was active in community and church affairs. He served on the school board, helped with the school band, was an elder in his church, and an organizer of the Niobrara Centennial. He was also active in Knox County affairs which led to his appointment to the Board of County Commissioners and election to the board just prior to his death in 1960. Dean and Marie have three children: Dean Frank, Jr., born in living, Donald Allen, born in living, and Robert Adolph, born in living. Don and his wife, Karen, have two daughters: Sara Layne living and Laura Nicole living

Pages 394, 395