Millard D. Vlach

Millard D. Vlach, 80, of Scotia, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, near Ashton. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Scotia. The Rev. Mark Middendorf will officiate. Burial will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Scotia, with graveside military honors by American Legion Post No. 150 of Scotia. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Vlach was born on Jan. 9, 1929, at Cotesfield, the son of George and Lucy (Tuma) Vlach. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Vlach of Scotia; one son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Sue Vlach of Scotia; two daughters and sons-in-law, Pam and Bryan Shuster of Laramie, WY and Tricia and Steve Kasper of Lincoln; one sister, Kathryn Ingerle of Elba. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and spouses, Suzanne and John Allen of Aurora, Katie and Deric Riessland of Lincoln, Kimbrie and Steve Kriewald of Lincoln, Abby and Nick Rennau of Wood River, Mindy and Shane Fox of Laramie, WY, Megan and TJ Gottschalk of Wichita, KS and Micah and Holly Shuster of Laramie, WY; and eight great-grandchildren, Keeley, Jack and Canon Allen, Carter and Carson Riessland, Bryanne Shuster, Jacob Fox and Teagan Gottschalk. Millard attended Howard County rural schools, Cotesfield High School and St. Paul High School. He was united in marriage to Peggy Meyer on May 8, 1951, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Scotia. He served in the U.S. Army from Dec. 1950 to Dec. 1952, with the 11th Airborne 127 Engineers Battalion. He returned to Scotia where he worked for Loup Valley Co-op. He began Vlach Construction in 1962. Over the years he assisted in the construction of Sherman Dam, Calamus Fish Hatchery and Davis Creek Dam. He also served several terms as a Greeley County Commissioner and as a Scotia village board member and Mayor. He loved watching sports and especially watching his grandchildren participate. He was a dedicated soil and water conservationist and longtime member of the Nebraska Land Improvement Contractors. He was named National Contractor of the year in 1987. He was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Scotia, where he held various offices; he was also a member of American Legion Post 150 and served on the Loup Central Landfill Board. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, George, John and Leonard Vlach; and two sisters, infant Lillian Vlach and Lucille Jackson. Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church or to the family’s choice.