Richard Milenkovich

Richard Milenkovich was born April 4, 1934 in Omaha, Nebraska to Rangel and Mary (Kalina) Milenkovich. He grew up in South Omaha, and always loved going back to eat fish at Joe Tess. His father came from Yugoslavia and served in the United States Army. His mother came from Czechoslovakia. His grandparents also came from Czechoslovakia and lived in South Omaha. Rich would help his grandpa cut wood for the cook stove so his grandma (Baba) could make kolaches for the whole family. Rich attended grade school at Hawthorn and graduated from South High School in 1952. He worked at Phillips Department store in the grocery department where he met his wife to be, Verna Shaver, just before their senior year in high school. They dated and were married June 6, 1953 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Omaha. Richard worked at Charles Schneider furniture in Council Bluffs, Iowa and Merwald’s Heating and Air Conditioning. He took classes to be a sheet metal mechanic. Rich bought a piece of property in Sarpy County and began building is first house. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1956. He served his Army time at Fort Smith, Arkansas and Fort McClellan, Alabama. It was pretty hard to send home a house payment on a private’s pay, but it taught Rich and Verna to be careful with how to spend their money. When he was discharged in 1958, it was sure nice to have their new house to move into. Rich went back to work for Merwald’s after his service time. Four wonderful children were born to this union: Terri Lynn, Tammi Lea, Richard Dean, and Tony. In 1965, the family moved to an acreage near LaPlatte, Nebraska. Rich had a stroke in December of 1965. He was not able to do the work at Merwald’s after that. He then went to work at Hartford Sand and Gravel so the family moved to Yutan to be closer to work. Rich joined the Yutan Volunteer Fire Department and helped with Junior League for the youth group at church. He also helped with the Boy Scouts, going on camping trips with the Scouts. In 1970, Rich suffered another stroke. He later went to work at Builders Supply Company, where he worked until his retirement in 1996. After his retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. Rich passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 75 years, 3 months and 26 days. He was preceded in death by his parents Rangel and Mary Milenkovich and brother-in-law Gene Cunningham. Rich is survived by his wife Verna of Yutan, daughters Terri Richards of Laurel, Ontario, Canada, and Tammi Matulka and significant other, Ronald Cox of Blair, NE, sons and daughters-in-law Rick and Shannon Milenkovich of Elkhorn, NE and Tony and Laurie Milenkovich of Winside, NE, 8 granddaughters; Rachael, Heather, and Kayla Matulka of Blair, NE, Hannah and Emma Milenkovich of Elkhorn, and Chelsey, Lesley, and Sophie Milenkovich of Winside, NE, great grandson Jayden Matulka of Blair, NE, sister and brother-in-law Violet and Gaylord DuRee of Omaha, and many nieces and nephews.

Richard Milenkovich

April 4, 1934 - July 30, 2009