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

WILLIAM M. SVOBODA, CO.

William M. Svoboda, Co. (the company’s name spelling was due to a printer’s error) dawned in Verdigre shortly after WWII when “Dude,” as he was known here, was honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy Seabees after serving for two-and-a-half years as a Regimental Bugler.

Born to William J. and Jessie Elle (Smith) Svoboda, June 25, 1922, he was educated in the Verdigre Public School. He excelled in sports and was chosen by Boy’s Life as All American, Six Man Football Player of the Year.

Upon graduation he attended the University of Nebraska, working for his room and board as a guard at the Nebraska State Reformatory for Men. Later he completed a secretarial course at Lincoln School of Commerce and was hired by the State Highway Department. As WWII erupted he worked with survey crews and later as a bulldozer operator on construction of the bomb loading plant near Grand Island and the ammunitions depot near Hastings.

“Dude” married Lillian Chalupnik, daughter of James J. and Anastazie (Beran) Chalupnik, in 1942. They are the parents of thirteen children.

After returning from the Seabees in 1945, he invested the $1,000 he and Lillian had saved in a car which he sold at a profit to buy two more old beaters to recondition and sell. Thus his business grew.

When factories once again began manufacturing home appliances, Svoboda worked day and high making them available to Northeast Nebraska homemakers. He sold many after the bars closed on Saturday nights. Sunday nights found him driving to Omaha or Sioux City where he parked at the warehouse dock and slept in his pickup until the business came to life in the morning. Being first in line, he loaded whatever ranges and refrigerators he could persuade the wholesaler to sell him from their short supply.

When the Svoboda Brothers retired, “Dude” took over their plumbing and heating business and added American and Youngstown Kitchens. With the arrival of television, he added TV sales and service.

After twelve years of successful business he closed shop and became a representative of investors Diversified Services of Minneapolis. He became a leading salesman.

As chairman of the Verdigre Improvement Club, he spearheaded a drive to find a doctor for Verdigre and build a clinic. He, with Louis A. Pavlik, spent a great deal of time over a period of two years visiting hospitals and talking to medical students, hospital interns, and residents before they found Dr. James Carlson who agreed to come here.

During the five years Svoboda spent with investors, several of his faithful customers told him, “You ought to be a banker.” Encouraged by “Nobby” Tiemann and other banking friends who assured him he had all of the qualifications to head a small-town bank, he began looking for such a bank to buy. After three years of searching, he purchased majority interest in the Battle Creek State Bank in 1961.

Although he has enjoyed twenty-five successful years as “Banker Bill” in Battle Creek, a bit of his and Lillian’s roots remain in Verdigre. And their sons can often be found fishing and hunting in “Them There Hills.”

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