Jerry E. Lanka

Jerry E. Lanka, 73, of St. Paul, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, at St. Paul. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Thomas Clark will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Lanka was born on May 6, 1936, southeast of St. Paul, the son of James and Hilda (Dobish) Lanka. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Lanka of St. Paul; two daughters and sons-in-law, Audrey and Brian Lukasiewicz of St. Paul and Val and Randy Nielsen of Grand Island; one son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Jana Lanka of Ogallala; and one brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Shirley Lanka of St. Paul. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Selena Wardyn and her husband, Neil of Grand Island, Matthew Lukasiewicz and his wife, Brooke of Kearney, Brandon Nielsen and his special friend, Natalie Hameloth of Grand Island, Nichole Nielsen and her special friend, Jared Calver of Lincoln, Hunter Lanka of York and Tyson Lanka of Ogallala; two great-grandsons, Krae Wardyn of Grand Island, Aiden Lukasiewicz of Kearney and Baby Wardyn on the way; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Velda and Butch Peters of St. Paul; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roger and Annette Ogard of St. Paul; as well as, nieces and nephews. Jerry grew up on the family farm and attended Dist. 65 Original Bunker Hill School and was a 1955 graduate of St. Paul High School. He was united in marriage to Charlotte A. Ogard on July 21, 1957, at St. Paul. The couple lived on the Lanka home place where they farmed. He worked as a brakeman/conductor for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad for 39 years from 1959 to 1998. In 2005, the couple moved from the farm into St. Paul, where he lived the rest of his life. He was baptized in 1990 at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul where he considered it an honor to serve on the funeral committee for many years. Jerry enjoyed gardening and raising watermelons and cantaloupes, which he shared with his family and friends. He always had a love for flying airplanes and was a member of the Howard County Flying Club for 14 years. He also enjoyed traveling very much. He and Charlotte went to several parts of Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and other parts of the United States. His favorite gifts to receive were chocolate candy, nuts and popcorn. He was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws, Myron “Mike” and Anna Ogard. Memorials are suggested to Christ Lutheran Church or the Howard County Hospital Foundation.