EDWARD AND GRACE [WELCH] VEJVODA, JR.
Edward Vejvoda, Jr., was born April 27, 1914, in Verdigre and
graduated from Verdigre High School in 1933. He served in the CCC
for almost 1 ˝ years. Later he learned the butcher trade and worked
in Creighton and Yankton, South Dakota. On June 24, 1941, he married
Grace Welch in St. Patrick’s Church, O’Neill, Nebraska.
Later he worked in Omaha at the Wilson Packing Company, and then
served a hitch in the army. After his military discharge on December
25, 1945, he farmed for five years. Then he ran a café in Verdigre,
sold out, and moved to Grand Island where he worked for the Union
Pacific until his retirement.
They were blessed with two sons: Gary and William. Gary was born on
living, and William on living, both in Lynch. Both
boys also served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.
Gary married Patricia M. Placke on June 29, 1963, at the Blessed
Sacrament Church in Grand Island, Nebraska. They have four children:
Patrick James (living) who is now serving in the navy on a
flattop; Joseph Anthony, born living, attending Kearney State
College; Sonya Renee, who was born living, graduated from
Grand Island High School in the spring of 1986. She is going to
dental school at Hastings. Lisa Marie was born living,
and is a senior at Grand Island High. All were born in Grand Island.
Bill married Judith O’Neill on November 28, 1964, at St. Libory.
They have two boys, John “Scot’, born living, and Mark William,
born living. Scotty is also in the service and stationed in
Korea. Mark is working at present as a meat cutter in a large
grocery store in Grand Island and plans to go to college this fall.
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