Leonard R. Mostek

Leonard R. Mostek, 82, of St. Paul, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at the Grand Island Veterans Home in Grand Island.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Ray Kosmicki will officiate.

Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul, with graveside military honors by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Mostek was born on Oct. 8, 1926, on a farm in Sherman County, north of Loup City, the son of Dominic and Mary (Zabawa) Mostek.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elaine Mostek on Sept. 20, 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Mostek; his children and spouses, Linda and Joe Hopper of Lee’s Summit, MO, Larry and Marlene Mostek of St. Paul, Terry and Rosanna Mostek of Grand Island, Steve and Kim Mostek of Grand Island, Pam and Ralph Hammack of Lincoln, Cindy and Todd Peters of St. Paul and Lisa and Kim Jensen of Eagle; one sister, Tena Lonowski of Creston, IA; and one brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Jan Mostek of Creston, IA; as well as, numerous Jarzynka in-laws and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Gina Diaz and her husband, Gino, Preston Mostek, Destiny Mostek, Ashley Mostek, Joel Mostek, Andy Hammack, Taylor Hammack, Ryan Hammack, Zachary Hammack, Morgan Peters, Riley Peters, Jordan Solko and Tyler Solko; 3 step- grandsons and their wives, Keith and Jill Lothrop, Bill Lothrop and Rick and Cindy Lothrop; one great-grandson, Dorian Diaz; and 8 step-great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Ted, Todd, Stacie, Cashlin, Caden, Collin and Chey Lothrop; he is also survived by Mary’s family: three step-daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Larry Koperski of Farwell, Shiron and Pete Johansen of Loup City and Valerie and Tony Papst of Farwell; three step-sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Mary Dembowski of Omaha, Joe and Connie Dembowski of Grand Island and John and Theresa Dembowski of Axtell; 22 step- grandchildren and 28 step- great grandchildren.

Leonard received his education in Sherman County schools and was a 1945 graduate of Loup City High School. He served in the Corp of Engineers in the US Army during World War II from June 1945 to Dec. 1946. After his discharge, he began working for the USDA, Soil Conservation Service.

He was united in marriage to Elaine Jarzynka on Nov. 22, 1949, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Ashton.

The couple raised their seven children and lived their entire married lives in St. Paul. He continued to work for the Soil Conservation Service until 1959. At that time he went into the Engineering and Land Construction business. He retired from his business in 1982. He was a charter member of the Land Improvement Contractors Association, having served as its President for the State of Nebraska in 1975 and 1976. He also served as a Director on the National level. As President of the Nebraska Contractors he received the Top State Award on the National Level and in 1980 was named Contractor of the Year. In 1982, he was made an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy by Governor Charles Thone. He was honored for his outstanding concern of the soil and water resources and his interest in National, State and County government. He served as a Howard County Commissioner from 1982 to 1994. He was honored by the Nebraska Association of County Officials with the Presidents Award for his distinguished leadership in county government. While serving as a Commissioner he served on the Physician Recruitment Committee, Howard County Health Board, Mental Retardation Governing Board, and the Midland Area Agency on Aging Governing Board. He was recognized by the Nebraska Department on Aging in 1995 as an outstanding Older Adult. He was once again, made an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy by Governor Ben Nelson for his 10 years of service on the Midland board.

One of his proudest achievements while serving as a Commissioner was helping to attain Federal assistance for the county and city to pave Adams Street in St. Paul.

In earlier years he had also served on the Howard County Board of Zoning and Adjustment, St. Paul Zoning and Planning Commission and the St. Paul City Council. He also assisted his daughter and son-in-law with their business, Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul and Loup City, for several years.

He was united in marriage to Mary (Ludington) Dembowski on May 11, 2004, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. He and Mary enjoyed five wonderful years together. They enjoyed going to the St. Paul Senior Center, making trips to Grand Island, going out to eat at area restaurants, visiting with family and friends on the phone and sitting outdoors and visiting with their neighbors.

Leonard was an active member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, where he served on the church council, school board and building committee. He was also a member of Knights of Columbus Council 1918, Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119, both of St. Paul, National Federation of Independent Business and longtime member and former director of the St. Paul Country Club. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, going to daily Mass, and having morning and afternoon coffee with his friends.

After suffering a fall in his home four months ago, Leonard has been hospitalized. The family appreciates the wonderful care of his numerous doctors, nurses, aides and therapists at each medical facility he has been in. Leonard was an awesome husband, father, father-in-law and grandpa.

He will be greatly missed by his family. In addition to his wife, Elaine, he was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Pete and Philomena (Smedra) Jarzynka; his brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Gloria Mostek; his brothers-in-law, Emil Lonowski, Anzel Jarzynka , Shorty Ksionzek and Alvin Jarzynka; and sister-in-law, Deloris Jarzynka. In lieu of flowers, Leonard requested that memorials be made to the family’s choice.