Joseph Frank Husak

Joseph “Joe” Frank Husak was born August 29, 1929 on the family farm two miles north and one mile east of Prague, Nebraska to John and Josephine (Eidelpess) Husak. When he was young, Joe’s family lived on farms or in the towns of Prague, North Bend, Webster, and Wahoo. Joe attended country schools in District 31 and District 27. He graduated from the eighth grade, and then went to work to help support his parents on the farm. From the time he was a little boy, Joe spoke fluent Czech. At school, he would help his teacher translate the lessons from Czech to English, and then go home and help his mother improve her English. Joe met Mary Ellen Drews at a dance in Weston, Nebraska. They fell in love and were married in the Saint John’s Lutheran Church parsonage in Yutan, Nebraska on January 5, 1949. To this union, three children were born: Judy, Richard, and Carol. The family has lived in the Yutan area since their wedding, moving into the current house in 1956. Joe worked for Earl May and Safeway Groceries, but his favorite job was as a bulk milk truck driver for Kruse Transfer. He enjoyed getting up early, sometimes as early as 2:00 AM and taking the milk to the dairy to be processed, and then going to the farms and picking up their milk. Joe worked seven days a week, and enjoyed being able to take his children, and later his grandchildren, on the milk route with him. He worked for Kruse Transfer until October 2002 for a total of 48 years. Joe was 71, but did not want to fully retire, so he worked part-time driving a milk truck for United of Lincoln Transfer for an additional 4 years. In addition to his work, Joe was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church since his marriage to Mary Ellen in 1949, and served on the church council for 4 years. Joe was also a member of the Yutan Fire and Rescue Squad for 15 years. Joe’s many hobbies included gardening, hunting (especially deer), and making wine (cherry being his favorite). Joe could always be found tinkering around or working on some type of project. He enjoyed making wood objects for his kids and grandkids, and was especially proud of the outdoor nativity set he made. Joe was very proud of his Czech heritage. He loved his duck, sauerkraut and dumplings, and especially, kolaches. He passed his love of polka music on to his kids, with them learning to play the accordion. On weekends, Joe and Mary Ellen would listen to their favorite polka radio station. Joe’s life centered around his family and his friends. He took pride in following school and church activities of his children and grandchildren, and could be found running the kids to the backyard to see the trains go by. He enjoyed bringing candy to each of the little ones on his milk route. He always talked of his fishing trips to Canada with the Lastovicas, and was especially fond of his buddy, Brian Lastovica. It was a special time when his son, Richard and his wife, Kim would visit, and Joe and Mary Ellen could go fishing with them. Most recently, Joe was having fun talking to his brother, John, about making wine, and teaching this craft to his grandsons and grandsons-in-law. The family remembers a funny story about Joe when they were snagging paddle fish in Yankton, S.D. Joe lost his fishing pole at Gavin’s Point Dam, and was so upset, he began trying to “snag” for his pole! Joe nearly fell out of the boat! As a joke, his daughter, Carol, and her husband, Terry rigged together a rope to keep Joe from falling out of the boat and losing another fishing pole. One end of the rope hooked to the boat, another hook was attached to Joe’s belt loop, and the other end hooked to the pole. That was one Christmas they couldn’t stop laughing! Joe passed away suddenly on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at his home in Yutan, Nebraska at the age of 79 years, 7 months, and 10 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Oliver; nephew, Joel Clausen; and niece, Margaret Clausen. Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ellen; son and daughter-in-law Richard and Kim Husak of Crofton, Maryland; daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Roger Anderson of Omaha, and Carol and Terry Widman of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. Grandchildren; Sara Anderson, and fiancé’ Joe Aliano of Omaha; Steve Anderson and wife, Jackie of Omaha; Michael Anderson and wife, Stacie of Omaha; William Widman and wife, Kristen of Yutan; Mary and husband, Sam Backes of Omaha; and Amy Widman of Kearney. Great grandchildren; Jadyn Anderson, Aidan Backes, Wyatt Widman, Kohl Anderson, and Owen Anderson. Sister and brother-in-law; Marie and Ken Clausen of Fremont; brother and sister-in-law; John Husak and wife, Shirley of Farmington, Iowa, and brother Otto Husak of Papillion, and many other relatives and friends.

Joseph Frank Husak

August 29, 1929 - April 8, 2009