Bernard A. Humlicek, age 92 of Wahoo, died Saturday, November 24, 2018 in Lincoln. He was born November 25, 1925, the first of four boys to Anton and Rose (Ostry) Humlicek in the Prague, Nebraska hospital. Bernard grew up on the family farm north of Abie, Nebraska.
When Bernard started school, he only spoke Czech and later on taught himself to read and write Czech and also taught others to read and write Czech. He graduated from Schuyler High School in 1944. On his own accord, Bernard joined and served in the U.S. Army during WWII from July 28, 1944 to June 29, 1946, in the 144th and 99th chemical mortar battalion serving as infantry, rifle marksman, and mechanic.
Company B fired over 113,000 mortars with 13,000 of them fired in a single 24-hour period during a battle near the end of the war. He received several ribbons including the Victory Ribbon. Bernard began farming on his own near Brainard after he returned home from serving his country.
In the mid-1950’s, he bought the farm he still owns near Prague. At a dance in Bee, Nebraska, Bernard met, and four months later married, Marcella Slavik on January 5, 1955. Bernard is a self-proclaimed engineer and fabricator, having at least one known patent for a disc transport system.
He made a lot of the shop equipment that he used most days on the farm from a tabletop grinder, motorized sickle sharpener, an air compressor and a power hacksaw all of which are still operational. Bernard made some of the parts he needed to repair his own equipment or to modify them to make them work more efficiently. He provided well for his family by farming the ground that he owned by raising cash crops and livestock, mainly cattle.
He also hired himself out to repair other farmers’ machinery. Bernard was as honest as the day was long. In late 2007, Marcy and Bernard moved to David City to retire.
They started a large garden there to keep active and Bernard continued to go to the farm weekly to maintain the property. When Marcella started to slow down in 2015, after 60 years of marriage, together they moved to Wahoo to an assisted living facility. He is a lifetime member of the North Bend VFW.
He was an active member of the Nebraska Farmers Organization (NFO). Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, son Bernie, and younger brothers Leonard and Louis. He is survived by his wife Marcella of Wahoo; children Julianne (Lloyd) Beaner of Lincoln, Cathy (Steve) Urban of Lincoln, Linda (Bill) Brown of Clayton, DE, Anton (Michelle) Humlicek of Lincoln, Jerome Humlicek of Lincoln; daughter-in-law Denise Humlicek of Lincoln; brother Jerome (Marcy) Humlicek of Columbus; grandchildren Christopher (Jamie) Beaner, Patrick Beaner, Megan (Cory) Lindgren, Kyle (Maegan) Urban, Makayla (Marcus) Harlow, Amanda and William Brown, Kirsten (Mike) Costello; great-grandchildren Madilyn Brown, Cooper and Ethan Lindgren; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the family for a later designation. Casket Bearers will be Christopher Beaner, Patrick Beaner, Kyle Urban, Marcus Harlow, Michael Costello, and Cory Lindgren. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bernard A. Humlicek please visit our Sympathy Store.
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