CHESTER GROELING TIKALSKY
Chester Groeling Tikalsky, first-born child of Thomas E. Tikalsky
and Marie Agusta (Groeling) Tikalsky, was born on December 17, 1907,
at Verdigre, Nebraska.
He grew to manhood in the Verdigre and Walnut areas with the
exception of two years that he spent in South Dakota as a young boy
with his parents. He lived with his parents most of his life on the
family farm at Walnut, Nebraska. He attended the Verdigre and Walnut
Grove schools during his grade school years and graduated from
Verdigre High School in 1926.
He was engaged in farming with his father on the farm until 1950. He
then bought Sandy’s Tavern from L. H. Sandoz in Verdigre. He ran
this business until 1954 when he sold it to Adolph Kotrous of
Verdigre. Then he held various jobs in the town. His last business
venture was a bait shop which he built north of Verdigre on a piece
of land that was his grandfather John Tikalsky’s original homestead.
In 1970 he sold the business to Elmer Holecek.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting and had a great love for the
outdoors.
He drove the school bus for a few years and played Santa Claus for
children of the town. He surprised many children when he appeared as
Santa at their country school Christmas programs.
His love for children will be remembered by all, especially his
family of nieces, nephews, their children, and the
great-great-grandnieces and nephews.
He was baptized into the Catholic faith on February 27, 1983, and
was a member of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.
He became a resident of the Alpine Village nursing home at Verdigre,
Nebraska, on June 25, 1983, and he died there at the age of 79 years
on February 4, 1987.
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