John A. Stuchlik

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 1st at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aurora. Fr. Dennis Hunt will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with the Rosary at 7:00 P.M. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: JOHN STUCHLIK

Long time Aurora businessman and entrepreneur John A. Stuchlik passed away peacefully at his cabin near Central City, NE Saturday, June 27th, 2009. He was born on May 24th, 1916 on a farm near Prague, NE. He graduated from Wahoo High School and then received his Business degree from Lincoln School of Commerce.

John married Frances Kriz on February 17th, 1941, and they enjoyed 69 years of marriage. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942, during World War II and was stationed in Hobbs, New Mexico until 1946. They then moved to York, NE in 1947 where he worked at the York State bank. In 1949 he purchased a part interest in the Farmers State Bank in Aurora, NE. John also founded Aurora Tile Company in 1953 where he manufactured irrigation water well screens, and during this time he also operated Stuchlik Realty and Insurance. He oversaw Aurora Tile for 48 years until it was sold to Titan Industries in 2001.

As a banker and businessman he understood the importance of agriculture to his community and state, and was instrumental in helping many young farmers/cattle feeders establish their businesses. He was still involved in farming and cattle feeding at the time of his death.

John was very community orientated and in an effort to help the community grow, he was one of the original founders of the Aurora Development Corporation in 1954; to recruit industries and business into the area. The group was very successful and many communities throughout the state modeled their programs after Aurora’s. He served as President for 14 years and then was appointed to the Nebraska Diplomats under Governor George Tieman and Charles Thone. The group was instrumental to the States economic growth. His dedication and accomplishments in these organizations were some of his proudest moments.

John was a member of the American Legion Post #42 and served as the Nebraska State Treasurer for two years. He was also a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus for over 70 years and served as Grand Knight of Council 1708 in 1948. John was involved In the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and served as President in 1954, as well as initiating the first Aurora Jaycees. He was also a member of the Aurora Lions Club.

Besides his love of work, John enjoyed traveling with his wife in their motor home and toured most of the U. S., Canada and Alaska. His hobbies included; his grandchildren, woodworking, his cabin and gardening, reading, NU football (oldest member of NU Beef Club), politics, and a good conversation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna Stuchlik; two brothers, Ed and Victor Stuchlik and sister, Edith Morrisey.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Frances Stuchlik of Aurora; three daughters, Carole (Bob) Ballard of of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, Cathi (Mike) Murphy of York, Jackie (Mike) McMullen of Omaha; son, John F. (Sherrie) Stuchlik of Kearney; 9 grandchildren, Robert T. (Mary Ann) Ballard of Utah, Christin Kelly (Troy) Murphy of Denver, Colorado, Ryan (Adelaide) Murphy of Denver, Colorado, Ashley Murphy of Lincoln, Kelly (McMullen) (Todd) Bertucci of Omaha, Todd (Ericka) McMullen of Omaha, Lindsay McMullen and fiancé Wes Wilkensen of Belgium/Omaha, Anthony Stuchlik and Ian Stuchlik both of Kearney; 6 great-grandchildren, Troy Ballard, Connor Kelly, Cayden Kelly, Patrick Murphy, Shea Murphy and Pierce Bertucci and several close niece and nephews.