OTTO AND EMMA [TUCH] VONASEK
Otto John Vonasek, son of Frank and Josephine (Sladek) Vonasek, was
born Mary 22, 1877, at Chicago, Illinois. When he was a small child,
his parents came as pioneers to Nebraska and settled in Western
Township near Pischelville. Otto, along with his brothers, George,
Zdenek, Ladik, Milos, and Bohus, and sisters, Bohumila, Vlasta, and
Olga, attended grade school in District 53. During his younger days
Otto enjoyed playing softball.
On March 27, 1901, Otto was united in marriage to Emma Tuch,
daughter of Frank and Marie (Jirasek) Tuch. She was born at
Pischelville on March 19, 1878. Before her marriage Emma did
domestic work in a family home in Niobrara.
Emma, with her brothers and sisters, Bessie, Agnes, George, Frank,
Pauline, and Mary, first attended school at Pischelville District 7
and later went to Steele Creek District 46.
Otto and Emma lived in the family log house for three years and it
was here on January 3, 1902, that their first daughter, Thelma, was
born. In 1904 they moved to a farm five miles northwest of Walnut.
On August 14, 1906, their second daughter, Lydia, was born.
Otto worked for eight years for the County of Knox grading roads. He
ran the caterpillar and Val Smith operated the road grader. Otto and
Val enjoyed pitching horseshoes and many hours were spent enjoying
this sport.
Otto was treasurer of School District 45 for many years. Emma was an
avid gardener; her flowers and garden reflected her devotion to
both. She was also an excellent cook. Both Otto and Emma were
long-time members of the ZCBJ Lodge No. 8 at Pischelville.
Both daughters attended school to the eighth grade at District 45.
Thelma then attended high school in Verdigre and later married David
C. Johnson. Lydia took Normal Training at Wayne State College and
after teaching for one year at Steele Creek, she married Clifford J.
Hale. (Clifford and Lydia reside in Verdigre.)
In 1948 Otto and Emma retired from the farm and moved to Verdigre
where they lived until 1951 when they moved to Creighton. Otto
passed away at his home on May 11, 1953, and Emma died on June 13,
1954, at the Lundberg Memorial hospital in Creighton. Both were laid
to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery at Creighton.
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