Raymond Lee Krivohlavek was born Oct. 26, 1924, to Louis and Lillie (Stastny) Krivohlavek on a farm south of Dorchester in Saline County.
Speaking only Czech, he began school at age 4 in Rural School Dist #104. Luckily his teacher, Irma (Freeouf) Ourecky spoke Czech as well and taught him English. He told many stories of his time there, like carrying his dinner in a syrup bucket and how his pony liked to untether itself and return home, so Ray and his brothers would have to walk themselves back. After eighth grade, at age 12, he entered Dorchester High School in 1936, where he participated in basketball and track, and would give four kids a ride to school for $.25 a week so he had a whole dollar a week to spend on the weekend. He was very active in 4-H and went on several 4-H trips across the country in his youth. In 1941, he graduated at age 16 with a class of 22 students. After high school, he farmed with his father, rented 80 acres of land and farmed with a John Deere steel wheel tractor.
In 1944, he was drafted into the army and attended basic training at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he chose to go into the Army Air Corps and attend Morse Code school to become a radio operator. The plane he flew in was a C-47 Cargo Plane, which only stayed in the states. He served from 1944-1945, and after being discharged, he returned to his love of farming and raising livestock, and used his G.I. Bill to attend the University of Nebraska for a semester of studying agriculture. He quickly realized he already knew how to farm and didn’t need to read about it, and spent the rest of the bill on pilot lessons. He enjoyed flying a small plane around the countryside, waving at his neighbors in their fields.
In 1948, he married Maxine Richtarik, who promptly put an end to his dangerous hobby and they continued farming and raising their family, Kevin, Davey (who died in infancy), Terri, Chris and Lori. He was a 4-H leader for 25 years and enjoyed helping the children in 4-H and FFA to raise and show animals at the county and state fairs and progress shows. After he retired, he and Maxine moved to Wilber and still went to the farm to help with farming and harvest.
In 1998, Maxine passed away and Ray spent his spare time buying old houses and repairing them for rentals and restored old John Deere tractors to give to his grandchildren. He loved keeping busy and had a large vegetable and flower garden. He bought a bucket truck and helped cut and clean up branches and trees after the 1998 snowstorm in Wilber, and during that time, he met his best friend, Edna Koll. They proceeded to spend over 20 years together in companionship, and went on many trips including to the Czech Republic to visit relatives.
He enjoyed spending time with his children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including those from Edna’s side of the family, who knew him as a grandfather. He also loved all the holiday gatherings and birthday parties with relatives and family friends, some of which were held at the cabin at Krivy’s Lake. He was a generous soul, always quick to lend a helping hand to those around him, was an asset to his community and liked his polka music. He lived a long and full life, and as he aged, he would frequently tell people he’d never live to see something, but surprised himself again and again. He was proud to be the oldest man in Wilber and one of only a few that could still speak Czech, and before he lost his eyesight, read and wrote it fluently.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Lillie (née Stastny); wife, Maxine (née Richtarik); sons, Kevin, and Davey (who died in infancy); daughter, Lori; brothers, Harold and Richard; and grandson, Dillon. Also, his in-laws, Lumir and Rose (née Kohout) Richtarik, Eugene Richtarik, and Shirley and Frank Oliva. He is survived by his very special friend, Edna Koll (née Filipi); daughter, Terri; son, Chris and wife Sandy (née Peavler); daughter-in-law, Nadine (née Albert); sisters-in-law, Virginia Krivohlavek (née McCormick) and Doris (née Eret) Richtarik, Edna’s children, David and Judy (née Plouzek), Kenneth and Doris (née Houser), Alan and Jenny (née Covert), Kathy and Jerry Wills, Patricia and Jack Ross, Kimberly Cox, and Christine Koll; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber with fellowship following at the Wilber Legion. Casual attire is requested. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.kunclfh.com.
