GEORGE AND VIRGINIA [JOHNSON] VONDRACEK, JR.
George Vondracek, Jr., was born in Verdigre on living. He was
baptized in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and attended Verdigre
Public elementary and high school. He graduated in 1942 and after a
semester at Nebraska State College at Wayne, he joined the army.
During World War II he served in the Pacific area as a Corpsman on
the hospital ship, U. S. S. Comfort. He was wounded in the Okinawa
Campaign by a Japanese Kamikaze plane and received the Purple Heart.
At the war’s end, he returned to Verdigre where he met Virginia
Johnson, who was employed as a teacher in the Verdigre Public
Schools. They were married on February 11, 1947, in the St.
Wenceslaus Church.
[pg 457 photo Front, left to right: Jennifer, Virginia, Lorraine;
back: Michael, George III, George, Thomas]
Virginia Johnson Vondracek was born to Arthur and Edna Lois Johnson
on living, on a farm east of Bloomfield, Nebraska. She
attended rural School District 115 and Bloomfield High School,
graduating with the class of 1941. After attending Nebraska State
College, Wayne, she began to teach in Verdigre. She made this
profession a life-long career teaching in schools in Verdigre,
Niobrara, and Elba, Nebraska.
After more college, Mr. Vondracek began teaching school first at a
rural school in Knox County, then as an elementary teacher combined
with music and later as full-time music instructor in Verdigre.
George also taught in the Ewing and Elba High Schools. He will have
retired in 1987.
Five children were born to the Vondraceks: Michael on living; Jennifer,
living; George III, living;
Thomas, living, and Lorraine on living. All five
children graduated from Verdigre High School.
Michael attended Norfolk Junior College for one year and graduated
from Wayne State College with a degree in Music Education. He taught
in Lakeview and Ottumwa, Iowa, and Kissimmee, Florida. He spent two
years in Florida as a professional musician and now teaches and
plays professionally on weekends. Michael married Bonnie Witt from
Wisner who also holds a degree in Music Education, from William Penn
College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She is presently teaching the profound
handicapped children. The Vondraceks have one daughter, Barbara, who
will have graduated from high school in 1987.
Jennifer graduated from Norfolk Junior College and Yankton College
where she earned a degree in Music Education. In 1976 she was chosen
to represent South Dakota in an All-American Choir in Interlocken,
Michigan. She taught music in Wausa, Nebraska, Alpena and Wessington
Springs, South Dakota, where she is currently vocal music
instructor. She served one year as a Girl Scout Field Executive out
of Huron, South Dakota. In 1981 Jennifer married George Theodore
Powell, a native of Wessington Springs, and a graduate of Yankton
College. At this writing he is instrumental music director in
Wessington Springs High School. The Powells have two daughters,
Adrienne, born in living, and Meghan, born in living.
George III graduated from the University of South Dakota at
Springfield with an associate degree in education and from Yankton
College with a degree in Music Education. He first taught
instrumental music in Hurly, South Dakota, and then in Kiester,
Minnesota. In 1981 he married Rita McGill of Beresford, South
Dakota. They have one son, Christopher, born in living. Rita graduated
from South Dakota State University at Brookings. She is currently
teaching speech and English in Northfield, Iowa.
Thomas also graduated from the University of South Dakota at
Springfield with an associate degree in education and from Yankton
College with a degree in Music Education. He taught instrumental
music in Corsica, South Dakota, Mead and Columbus, Nebraska, and is
presently teaching in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. He married Kathleen
Kuyper of Corsica, South Dakota, in 1982. She is a graduate of
Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with a degree in
Music Education. She also is teaching in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
Lorraine graduated from Yankton College with a degree in elementary
education. She is teaching in Holt County District 102 where she has
been for the past three years. She married Steven Wallinger of
Stuart in 1984. He manages the Stuart Fertilizer and Grain Company
and is engaged in farming with his brothers. They have one daughter,
Amanda Marie, born in living.
Pages 457, 458
