Howard B. Horak

Howard B. Horak, 91, of St. Libory, died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Libory’s Catholic Church in St. Libory. The Revs. Sidney Bruggeman and James Janovec will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Horak was born on March 12, 1919, on the family farm east of St. Libory, the son of Clem and Mary (Ambrose) Horak. He was united in marriage to Irene M. Dingwerth on April 24, 1945, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island. She preceded him in death on April 25, 2005. He is survived by four daughters and two sons-in-law, Jane Bunner of Grand Island, Marge Stevens of Bakersfield, CA, Kathy and Ron Woitaszewski of Wood River and Sheri and Curtis Eppenbach of Lindsborg, Kansas; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Phil Horak of Wichita, Kansas, Maurice and Rae Horak and David and Leann Horak, all of Grand Island, Allen and Laura Horak and Gene and Sheila Horak, all of St. Libory. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Howard grew up on the family farm and attended St. Libory’s Parochial School. He then farmed with his father. After his marriage to Irene, the couple farmed in the St. Libory area. He also operated “Howard’s Garage” in St. Libory for several years during the 1950’s. He was one of the first watermelon growers in the St. Libory area and sold his produce for many years. In 2004, the couple moved to Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island. After Irene’s death he continued to live at Tiffany the rest of his life. He was a lifetime member of St. Libory’s Catholic Church. He helped build the new church in 1953. Howard also coached the St. Libory town baseball team for a number of years. He and Irene enjoyed dancing, he loved to listen to polka music, and he loved doing the “Chicken Dance” with his grandkids. He also enjoyed going to farm sales and auctions, playing cards, tinkering in his shop and visiting with friends. In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Louise Shively; a daughter-in-law, Sue Horak; a son-in-law, Tom Stevens; and a great-grandson, Zachariah Horak. Memorials are suggested to the church or for masses.