St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery - Valley County, Nebraska
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St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery
by Scott Musil
The St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery was established on January 5, 1881 at the same planning meeting for the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. The cemetery was used before the church was ever completed (1882), when the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Papousek died in the summer of 1881. This grave remains unmarked in the cemetery today, as is the case with several graves in the cemetery. A listing of the cemetery was published in Nebraska Ancestree, vol. 12, no. 3, Winter 1990. The issue stated that the stones were read in 1980. As I looked over the list, I noticed several errors, most notably the story about the William Heffernan burial, which is detailed at the end. I used this list as a starting point, and updated the list by walking the cemetery in June 2004.
Many more errors were found in the previous list while walking the cemetery. The 1900 US Census was used to find birth months and middle initials of some individuals. From 2005-2006 newspapers were checked for obituaries and the church funeral records were consulted to find names of unmarked burials. Following is an accurate (to the best of my ability) listing of the burials in St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery.
Name | Birth Date | Death Date | Notes |
Babka, František J. | December 3, 1834 | May 4, 1908 | husband of Barbara Babka |
Bedlivy, František | March 1825 | February 14, 1916 | unmarked |
Bedlivy, Kateřina | May 1826 | October 9, 1908 | |
Benda, František | March 23, 1894 | 74 years old | |
Benda, Jan | November 25, 1887 | April 25, 1900 | |
Blaha, František | December 30, 1888 | May 19, 1906 | |
Bonne, Emma M. DeCock | November 27, 1882 | August 27, 1909 | wife of Edward Bonne |
Bonne, Emma M. S. | August 20, 1909 | September 6, 1909 | dau of Edward and Emma |
Brim, Barbara Rosie | February 12, 1890 | September 27, 1940 | |
Brim, Frank Edward | July 3, 1918 | January 25, 2002 | husband of Viola, married December 28, 1970 |
Brim, Frank Martin Sr. | December 31, 1882 | July 14, 1970 | |
Brim, Josefka M. | March 1850 | July 31, 1916 | born in Moravě |
Brim, Karel M. Sr. | December 1, 1844 | July 21, 1920 | 75 yr 7 mo 20 d |
Brim, Louis | September 2, 1916 | August 6, 1935 | |
Brim, Lue Frank | December 4, 1891 | July 12, 1966 | |
Brim, Mary | January 5, 1895 | January 4, 1925 | wife of Lue Brim, dedicated by Mr. & Mrs. V. F. Klanecky |
Brim, Ruzenka | August 10, 1908 | August 22, 1908 | dau of Karla and Marie |
Bruha, Anna | February 20, 1851 | June 21, 1943 | |
Bruha, Emma | July 9, 1899 | March 15, 1904 | |
Bruha, František | June 17, 1918 | September 28, 1919 | |
Bruha, Josef | December 12, 1840 | January 13, 1902 | husband of Anna Bruha |
Bruha, Paul Edward | March 5, 1974 | March 6, 1974 | |
Bruha, Vincenc | October 7, 1896 | September 23, 1919 | |
Čech, Antonie | May 23, 1879 | April 9, 1915 | |
Cerny, Frank Joseph | November 17, 1884 | November 27, 1966 | |
Cerny, Julia A. | February 1, 1890 | August 6, 1974 | |
Chalupa, Anna C. | October 20, 1855 | October 22, 1931 | |
Chalupa, Frank L. | October 14, 1849 | January 31, 1938 | |
Chalupsky, Antonia Agnes | May 6, 1885 | December 20, 1974 | |
Chalupsky, Jacob Joseph | June 5, 1878 | February 12, 1968 | |
Conley, Andrew | October 8, 1892 | 63 years old | |
Denskey, Joseph | April 27, 1895 | 63 years old | |
Epp, Otto | October 8, 1884 | May 1, 1908 | born in Germany, stone hidden in a lilac bush |
Foral, August Anton | July 29, 1886 | January 31, 1983 | |
Foral, Emma E. | May 8, 1904 | May 1, 1933 | |
Foral, Frank John | 1856 | July 21, 1938 | |
Foral, Josefa M. | January 16, 1860 | August 2, 1955 | |
Foral, Marie | March 4, 1888 | May 6, 1971 | |
Francl, Joe | January 28, 1890 | May 30, 1907 | |
Grunwald, Wenceslaus Joseph | September 23, 1914 | September 30, 1914 | unmarked, son of Albert and Marie |
Heffernan, Jennie | March 1892 | March 6, 1901 | dau of John |
Heffernan, John | 1853 | April 27, 1918 | |
Heffernan, Margaret | May 1851 | November 3, 1934 | |
Heffernan, Margaret | March 7, 1884 | February 25, 1917 | dau of Mr. and Mrs. John |
Heffernan, Mary | December 1882 | September 19, 1883 | dau of John |
Heffernan, William H. | September 19, 1887 | March 17, 1936 | see story below |
Holoun, Albina Anna | December 29, 1876 | July 11, 1947 | |
Holoun, Joseph Frank | December 1869 | January 19, 1948 | |
Holzinger, Infant Daughter | July 9, 1921 | July 9, 1921 | unmarked, dau of Joseph and Theresia |
Holzinger, Marketa | October 1830 | March 2, 1911 | |
Hosek, Agnes Anna | August 10, 1888 | April 19, 1974 | |
Hosek, Anna M. | August 30, 1917 | May 29, 1999 | |
Hosek, Emil Edward | May 21, 1915 | December 13, 1993 | D.A.V. |
Hošek, František | February 28, 1888 | March 11, 1891 | |
Hošek, Josef | March 11, 1884 | March 12, 1891 | |
Hosek, Joseph E. | August 31, 1912 | May 16, 1998 | PFC U.S. Army Air Forces WW II |
Hosek, Joseph Rudolph | April 22, 1886 | November 11, 1965 | |
Hošek, Kateřina | 1891 | ||
Hosek, Lyduska Marie | May 28, 1920 | October 15, 1920 | dau of Vaclav Hosek |
Hosek, Mary E. | November 6, 1920 | February 19, 2006 | |
Hosek, Matej | January 18, 1890 | ||
Hosek, Václav | September 28, 1889 | March 21, 1891 | |
Hošek, Vojtěch | 1890 | Shown on previous listing, grave could not be found | |
Hosek-Bailey, Mary Albina | January 23, 1900 | July 18, 1992 | |
Hulinsky, Marie | September 8, 1849 | July 20, 1905 | |
Hulinsky, Vojtěch (Albert) | 1841 | August 13, 1896 | stone has skull & crossbones |
John, Marie Kosmata | 1870 | 1891 | |
Kamarad, Charlotte M. Hansen | November 15, 1930 | married October 8, 1949 | |
Kamarad, Frances Julia | January 4, 1901 | March 24, 1993 | |
Kamarad, Joseph Richard | July 25, 1894 | December 8, 1988 | Pvt. U.S. Army, WW I |
Kamarad, Leonard Rudolph | March 5, 1930 | June 2, 1996 | DK3 U.S. Navy, Korea, married October 8, 1949 |
Kamarad, Randall James | September 2, 1960 | September 3, 1960 | |
Kelley, Emily E. Weverka | March 21, 1926 | ||
Kelley, Richard William | December 10, 1921 | November 20, 1994 | |
Klanecky, Barbora Josephine | December 4, 1866 | June 1, 1935 | |
Klanecký, Josef | October 18, 1847 | December 26, 1912 | “Woodmen of the World Memorial” |
Klanecký, Karolina | March 21, 1861 | September 28, 1936 | |
Klanecky, Vaclav F. | September 27, 1866 | November 5, 1957 | |
Klapal, Jan | December 1822 | 1906 | |
Klapal, Jan | August 19, 1857 | January 18, 1900 | |
Klíma, František | October 26, 1879 | April 15, 1882 | bones buried in casket with mother, Anna Klíma Voráček |
Klíma, Matěj | February 24, 1837 | November 20, 1883 | |
Kokes, Anna M. | April 1887 | June 19, 1967 | |
Kokes, Emily | December 26, 1908 | January 13, 1909 | dau of John J. & Anna M. |
Kokes, John Joseph | February 18, 1885 | October 26, 1961 | |
Kokeš, Josef | August 24, 1836 | July 11, 1896 | |
Kokeš, Teresie Rose | October 5, 1877 | August 10, 1901 | wife of Jan |
Kokše, Antonie | no dates | no dates | dau of Josef Kokeš, died at age of 9 mo 10 d |
Kokše, Jan | April 5, 1895 | December 25, 1896 | son of Jan, died at age of 1 yr 8 mo 29 d |
Kolar, Bozenka and Ruženka | April 3, 1912 | May 3, 1912 | |
Kolar, Frank J. | December 21, 1883 | May 13, 1949 | |
Kolar, František M. | June 17, 1930 | April 17, 1931 | |
Kolar, Minnie J. | October 15, 1909 | February 3, 1910 | |
Kolar, Tillie Josephine | May 10, 1887 | August 17, 1965 | |
Kosmata, Francis | October 4, 1868 | November 17, 1891 | |
Kosmata, Minnie | August 19, 1899 | September 4, 1899 | |
Kosmata Son | June 1889 | unmarked, son of Joseph | |
Koupal, Anna | October 1844 | November 14, 1909 | 65 years old |
Koupal, Anton | May 9, 1825 | June 19, 1913 | |
Krbel, Anna W. | December 8, 1884 | July 28, 1910 | maiden name: Chalupa |
Krikac, Bartholomew Cyril | January 12, 1838 | August 12, 1897 | |
Krikac, Marie | June 1, 1842 | February 13, 1924 | |
Krikac, Thomas J. | March 6, 1871 | November 15, 1891 | |
Křikače, Josef | August 29, 1897 | February 10, 1898 | son of Václav and Josefa |
Krish, Mary | March 17, 1890 | August 28, 1897 | dau of Joseph and Mary |
Kriss, James | September 27, 1873 | November 14, 1946 | |
Kriss, Joseph | July 25, 1914 | April 30, 1981 | |
Kriss, Mary Ann | February 14, 1874 | June 20, 1966 | |
Kriss, William | June 10, 1912 | May 2, 1989 | |
Kriz, Annie | January 1843 | December 11, 1907 | 64 years old |
Kriz, Frank | June 1835 | February 17, 1925 | 89 years old |
Kruml, Prokop | November 19, 1883 | April 12, 1895 | |
Kruml, Vaclav | February 5, 1897 | June 3, 1898 | |
Krumlova (Kruml), Marie | May 17, 1892 | September 13, 1915 | |
Leska, Alois | June 25, 1892 | September 9, 1963 | |
Leska, Antonia K. | June 8, 1892 | May 9, 1984 | |
Leska, Infant | January 24, 1924 | January 24, 1924 | Baby of Alois and Antonia |
Leska, Lillian Rose | December 5, 1925 | October 23, 1943 | |
Lola, Jan | December 24, 1848 | October 28, 1908 | born in Moravé, Okres Křižanov |
Lola, John W. | February 9, 1895 | June 5, 1954 | |
Lola, Joseph | January 19, 1930 | January 24, 1930 | |
Lola, Julia V. | February 20, 1906 | June 1, 1998 | |
Lola, Mary | July 26, 1851 | June 26, 1943 | |
Lukeš, Evelyn E. | June 11, 1894 | June 11, 1894 | |
Lukeš, John | May 7, 1909 | May 7, 1909 | |
Mach, Anna | January 11, 1902 | August 17, 1903 | |
McDonald, Moras | July 1849 | November 7, 1905 | 53 years old |
Moravec, Albina Frances | October 30, 1880 | April 6, 1966 | |
Moravec, Henry Martin | December 8, 1909 | January 29, 1922 | |
Moravec, Joseph J. | March 19, 1881 | September 27, 1963 | |
Nekuda, Františka | 1848 | March 8, 1914 | |
Nekuda, Marie | September 1902 | April 1903 | unmarked, dau of Charles |
Nemeskal, Peter | October 1849 | February 8, 1921 | |
Nemeskal, Sophie | May 5, 1844 | November 26, 1931 | |
Novak, Cecilie | November 6, 1841 | January 30, 1929 | |
Novák, Jan | May 29, 1890 | 53 years old | |
Novotný, Alzběta | February 28, 1859 | October 7, 1890 | |
Novotný, Barbora | May 26, 1889 | July 27, 1889 | |
Novotný, Jan | November 18, 1883 | October 10, 1886 | |
Oliva, Bozěna | May 28, 1883 | March 11, 1916 | |
Oliva, Katherine | March 1916 | March 1916 | buried with Bozěna Oliva |
Oliva, Mary | 1902 | April 3, 1916 | dau of Mr.&Mrs. F. Oliva |
Palan, Anna | July 19, 1861 | June 16, 1928 | |
Palan, Jan | May 1857 | January 12, 1902 | |
Palan, Vincent | April 1899 | 1909 | |
Papousek, Infant | Summer 1881 | unmarked, dau of Mr. & Mrs. Martin | |
Papousek Child | June 27, 1892 | unmarked, child of Frank, 18 months old | |
Parkos, Anna Emma | August 18, 1885 | April 4, 1955 | |
Parkos, Antonia | June 8, 1865 | August 2, 1935 | |
Parkos, František | 1891 | ||
Parkos, Josef | January 6, 1889 | February 24, 1904 | |
Parkos, Josef Frank | January 12, 1878 | October 2, 1921 | |
Parkos, Maria | August 25, 1874 | February 20, 1891 | |
Parkos, Marie | April 12, 1859 | August 5, 1933 | |
Parkos, Vaclav | January 9, 1859 | December 20, 1935 | |
Parkos, Vojtěch | October 15, 1855 | March 23, 1931 | |
Parkosova (Parkos), Eliška | February 19, 1904 | February 8, 1917 | murdered at the age of 12 yr 11 mo 20 d |
Parkosova (Parkos), Františka | October 1849 | April 5, 1903 | wife of Matej Parkos, born in Kalalova |
Parkosova (Parkos), Františka | October 28, 1862 | June 19, 1903 | wife of Vaclav Parkos, born in Jihlavske v Cechăch |
Peňás, Kateřina | July 18, 1844 | November 20, 1912 | |
Penas, Marie Holounová | May 23, 1907 | 40 years old | |
Pesek, Jerry James | September 27, 1926 | July 10, 1978 | PFC U.S. Army, WW II |
Pesek, Mildred Ruth | July 14, 1921 | November 27, 1989 | |
Pilný, František | August 20, 1892 | 65 years old | |
Pokorny Son | January 16, 1908 | son of John, 6 years old | |
Polak, Antonie | March 2, 1854 | January 3, 1926 | maiden name: Kuklisova |
Polak, František J. J. | September 25, 1889 | December 20, 1918 | |
Polak, Joseph J. | September 28, 1857 | August 9, 1927 | |
Prestle, Bibiana | December 26, 1844 | March 14, 1904 | wife of M. Prestle, 59 yr 2 mo 17 d, stone says death date March 13, 1904, other sources state March 14, 1904 |
Prestle, Michael | January 10, 1851 | December 17, 1911 | born in Bayern (Bavaria), died in Ord, Nebraska |
Proskocil, Anton Stanley | May 7, 1926 | January 5, 1927 | |
Ptacnik, Infant twins | June 17, 1937 | June 17, 1937 | twins of Mr. and Mrs. Lumir - boy and girl |
Ptacnik, Frank | November 14, 1898 | November 30, 1898 | |
Ptacnik, Frank | August 25, 1905 | September 20, 1905 | |
Ptacnik, John | January 1, 1945 | January 1, 1945 | son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard |
Ptačnik, Joseph | February 12, 1853 | June 17, 1936 | |
Ptacnik, Kateřina | November 25, 1884 | April 7, 1902 | dau of Josef and Kateřina |
Ptačnik, Kateřina A. | November 1, 1854 | December 17, 1928 | |
Ptacnik, Willie | August 19, 1898 | August 19, 1898 | |
Puncochar, Frank J. | April 2, 1894 | October 14, 1913 | |
Rousek, Anna | August 14, 1889 | December 18, 1912 | wife of Jan Rousek |
Rysavy, Josef | 1835 | October 9, 1906 | |
Scheinost, Albina | Before 1900 | unmarked, dau of Emanuel | |
Seda, Antonia | May 20, 1856 | March 13, 1948 | |
Seda, Frank | June 26, 1854 | December 22, 1932 | |
Sedlacek, Alice J. | October 10, 1913 | September 23, 1947 | |
Sedlacek, Anna B. | October 7, 1883 | May 18, 1972 | |
Sedlacek, George B. | May 18, 18861886 | June 9, 1956 | |
Sedlacek, John Louis | December 23, 1890 | March 31, 1955 | Pvt. U.S. Army, WW I |
Sedlacek, Mary | July 23, 1853 | November 19, 1934 | unmarked, next to Václav |
Sedlacek, Václav | May 1844 | March 3, 1921 | 76 years old |
Severin, Benedikt | February 14, 1890 | 18 years old | |
Shimek, Barbara | 1908 | July 13, 1943 | |
Silver, Teddy | 1926 | 1926 | |
Slaviček, Bessie (Boženka) | August 28, 1895 | December 31, 1914 | |
Slavicek, Fannie | April 13, 1881 | January 3, 1913 | |
Slavicek, Frank | July 14, 1868 | May 4, 1914 | |
Slavicek, Rose | August 20, 1881 | May 2, 1914 | |
Šlegel, Anna | October 22, 1849 | September 13, 1924 | |
Slegel, Jim | January 4, 1886 | June 14, 1965 | uncle |
Slegel, Mary | November 22, 1887 | June 18, 1962 | aunt |
Šlegel, Pavel (Paul) | November 8, 1846 | December 26, 1894 | |
Smolik, Emma Marie | December 25, 1911 | December 25, 1911 | dau of Mr & Mrs L. J. Smolik |
Smolik, Joseph | March 1820 | February 24, 1910 | unmarked |
Smolik, Marie | December 1836 | December 14, 1909 | unmarked |
Tomes, Florian | October 18, 1837 | January 19, 1919 | |
Tomes, Josef | December 22, 1901 | March 22, 1903 | son of Alojze and Kateřina |
Tomeš, Kateřina | September 1840 | November 18, 1914 | wife of Florian Tomeš |
Turek, Antonia M. | September 16, 1882 | November 21, 1972 | |
Turek, Matt Adolph | September 1, 1874 | January 11, 1944 | |
Valasek, Emma A. | August 4, 1885 | February 20, 1981 | |
Valasek, Frank Joseph | June 6, 1877 | September 21, 1925 | |
Valášek, Jan | April 29, 1898 | April 29, 1898 | |
Valášek, Josef | April 19, 1846 | March 19, 1910 | |
Valasek, Vojtěch F. | July 25, 1887 | June 22, 1910 | |
Valáškova (Valášek), Anna | June 29, 1844 | March 25, 1920 | |
Veverka, Adela M. | September 16, 1883 | March 2, 1953 | |
Veverka, Frank A. | February 26, 1878 | December 23, 1940 | |
Veverka, Martin Sr. | November 14, 1845 | July 5, 1920 | 77 years old |
Veverka, Vilém | 1888 | 1890 | |
Visek, Anne Marie | October 28, 1913 | July 29, 2003 | |
Višek, Emily Katherine | January 3, 1916 | June 10, 1942 | |
Višek, Vaclav John | May 23, 1878 | July 16, 1943 | |
Vodehnal, Alice B. | October 26, 1905 | August 2, 1907 | dau of Jindricha and Emmy |
Vodehnal, Josef | April 25, 1875 | September 11, 1905 | |
Vodehnalova (Vodehnal), Emilie | March 15, 1886 | March 28, 1896 | |
Volf, Agnes | October 15, 1921 | October 16, 1921 | unmarked |
Volf, Anna | July 20, 1864 | November 18, 1928 | wife of Frank |
Volf, Frank | January 1853 | November 27, 1913 | |
Volf, Frank | October 15, 1921 | October 16, 1921 | unmarked |
Voráček, Anna Klíma | January 20, 1844 | October 23, 1923 | |
Waldmann, Alice Catherine | April 4, 1910 | April 15, 2001 | |
Waldmann, Joseph John | September 19, 1871 | May 27, 1958 | |
Waldmann, Katherine Frances | January 22, 1877 | June 28, 1973 | |
Waldmann, Lawrence Joseph | November 13, 1905 | October 3, 2004 | married February 28, 1933 |
Waldmann, Loretta Ellen | December 25, 1910 | April 23, 1992 | married February 28, 1933 |
Waldmann, William Englebert | May 14, 1899 | January 10, 1945 | |
Weverka, Emanuel Frank | August 4, 1910 | May 10, 1970 | |
Weverka, Emma E. | January 1, 1887 | August 20, 1975 | |
Weverka, Frantiska | July 1842 | February 25, 1931 | 88 years old |
Weverka Infant | December 18, 1899 | unmarked, child of Joseph, 10 or 11 months old | |
Weverka Infant | March 8, 1901 | unmarked, son of Joseph, 3 months old | |
Weverka, John Henry | February 8, 1883 | January 4, 1963 | |
Weverka, Karel | October 9, 1893 | October 20, 1913 | |
Weverka, Martin Joseph | November 11, 1885 | July 23, 1965 | |
Weverka, Pauline E. | December 1885 | April 26, 1972 | |
Woracek, Anna Mary | July 6, 1886 | May 18, 1968 | sister |
Woráček, Barbora | August 3, 1893 | February 23, 1915 | maiden name: Ptáčnikova |
Woracek, John | January 28, 1874 | December 21, 1955 | |
Woráček, Josef | March 20, 1884 | May 13, 1896 | |
Woráček, Marie | April 22, 1845 | July 9, 1898 | |
Woracek, Mate J. | February 22, 1838 | April 8, 1926 | |
Woracek, Matthew | July 14, 1889 | September 2, 1973 | brother |
Woráček, Vilém | October 31, 1914 | November 24, 1914 | |
Zadina, Lucie | September 23, 1889 | February 13, 1913 |
The grave of William H. Heffernan is located to the south of the main cemetery, close to the fence. The listing in Nebraska Ancestree stated this false story in regards to the reason for the burial location: “It is said that from time to time, Wm. fell out of grace with the priest. At the time of his death they were not getting along, and that is the reason his grave is located along the fence line.” This was not the case. Heffernan committed suicide by hanging himself on March 17, 1936, due to his financial condition. After his mother passed away in 1934, Bill’s sister Nellie Irwin wanted to settle the estate. Due to back taxes not paid, the farm was sold at a referee’s sale to Joseph Waldmann, who was supposed to gain possession on March 1, 1936. Bill kept asking for extensions, and finally committed suicide. The reason that he was not buried in the main cemetery was at that time, people who committed suicide could not be buried in a Catholic cemetery. It had nothing to do with getting along with the priest. Even if he was getting along with the priest, he still could not have been buried in the cemetery at that time.
The Nebraska Ancestree also stated: “Other graves to the east of the main cemetery are not marked and no one knows names.” I have never heard of any graves to the east of the main cemetery. I have never found evidence of graves in that area. Many of the older graves (and these would have to be older graves) in the cemetery have sunk slightly or quite a bit, requiring filling. If there were graves in this area, more than likely there would be at least one that had sunk. I found no evidence of this. It is also highly unlikely that there are graves in this part of the cemetery because this area is on the side of a hill. It is not overly steep, but it seems like the digging of graves stopped at the easternmost point possible in the cemetery.
What follows are some photographs showing general views of the cemetery.
General view of cemetery, looking towards the east
View of cemetery, looking towards the northeast
View of cemetery, looking towards the southeast
View of cemetery from statue, looking towards the northwest
View of cemetery from statue, looking towards the north
View of cemetery from statue, looking towards the northeast
Grave of William H. “Bill” Heffernan, located south of the cemetery near the fence