JOHN AND MARIE [MRZENA] MARKITAN
John Markitan was born in Bohemia and came to America when he was
nine ;years old. His parents, both born in Bohemia, were Mathew
Markitan and Anna Kostak. Anna died in 1881 in Pocahontas, Iowa, and
Mathew remarried. He was a carpenter in Verdigre where he died in
1908. He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery.
John married Marie (Mary) Mrzena on April 16, 1885. Her father,
Vaclav Mrzena, was born November 11, 1845, in Bohemia, where he was
also married in 1865 to Barbara Kalal. Barbara was born in October
1847, also in Bohemia. Both died in Verdigre, Vaclav in April of
1915, and Barbara in July of 1934. They farmed near Verdigre until
his health failed and they moved to town. They are buried in the
Verdigre Catholic Cemetery.
Before their marriage John homesteaded about seven miles west of
Verdigre. After he married Mary Mrzena, they lived on a farm 2 ½
miles west of Verdigre for the next nine years. Then they moved to
Verdigre where he bought half interest, with Albert Pavlik, in a
grocery and dry goods store. About two years later, he sold his
share and worked in the furniture store. John was also a carpenter.
For 25 years he served as treasurer and sexton for the Catholic
Church. He liked working with wood. In the early days when the
possession of a camera was only a fanciful dream, John Markitan
conceived an idea of an exact picture of the little white church for
the future generation. He had a very creative mind, lots of
patience, and with his pocket knife and a piece of wood, in no time
made a perfect picture of the first church which had been built in
1884. This replica was a very highly cherished possession of Mr. and
Mrs. Jerry Jirousek. Now it is at the Verdigre Heritage Museum. In
1915 when this church was replaced by the present one, Mr. Markitan
though advanced in age, again moved by the same religious sentiment,
took his pocket knife and excelled his former work in beauty and
art. His replica of the St. Wenceslaus Church now was made according
to scale in all detail. It is a worthy monument to honor the memory
of the forefathers. (The replica of the present church has been
bequested to Vac J. Holan.) Louis also made a replica of Mrs. E. W.
Walker’s home including every detail.
He died May 15, 1954, in Clarkson, Nebraska, and is buried in the
Catholic Cemetery in Verdigre, Nebraska.
Marie Mrzena Markitan died in Clarkson, Nebraska, at the age of 101
years. She, too is buried in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic cemetery,
Verdigre.
The Markitans had six children: Sophie, Gertrude, Marie, Louis,
Otto, and Lucille.
Sophie (Markitan) Kulas was born August 25, 1886, in Verdigre,
Nebraska, and was married September 14, 1909, in Verdigre to Albert
Kulas. She died May 30, 1969, in Iowa Falls, Iowa. They had one son,
Paul.
Gertrude (Markitan) Fayman was born August 23, 1890, in Verdigre and
was married to Adolph Fayman. She is 96 years old and still lives in
Clarkson, Nebraska. They had two daughters.
Marie (Markitan) Greenlee was born February 8, 1893, in Verdigre.
She was married to William Greenlee on February 22, 1922. Marie died
in California in March of 1976,.
Louis Markitan was born March 26, 1895, in Verdigre, where he grew
up and attended area schools. He attended Wayne State College and
served in the army during World War I. Louis married Emily T.
Pischel on June 16, 1925, at Verdigre. For several years they lived
in Verdigre where he was affiliated with a bank. In 1930 they moved
to a ranch in the Buffalo Gap area. In 1935 they moved to Fairburn,
South Dakota, where they farmed. He died at Rapid City Care Center
on April 19, 1983, at the age of 87. His wife died in 1966. They had
two sons, Jack and Dean.
Otto Markitan was born January 8, 1900, in Verdigre. He married
Helen Nevine. Otto died on March 10, 1964.
Lucille (Markitan) Wadsworth was born September 15, 1903, in
Verdigre. On August 11, 1923, she married Leo Wadsworth in Omaha,
Nebraska, where Lucille is still living. They had three sons.
-Submitted by a friend, Mrs. Leonard (Martha Holan) Sukup
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