LaVern R. Mroczek

LaVern R. Mroczek, 83 of Loup City, NE died Monday, September 12, 2016 at Good Samaritan Society Home in Ravenna. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City with Father Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial will be held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 15 at the church with a Vigil Service/Knights of Columbus Rosary to be held at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Loup City Fire Department, LaVern Mroczek Scholarship Fund, Sherman County Senior Center or Donor’s Choice.

LaVern Richard Mroczek was born in Loup City, Nebraska on April 24, 1933 to Leo and Clementine (Kowalski) Mroczek. LaVern attended grade school at District #52 in rural Loup City.  He rode his horse Polly to school and carried his lunch in a syrup bucket.  LaVern only spoke Polish when he started school.  He attended Eighth grade at St. Josaphat’s Catholic school.  He graduated from Loup City High School in the Class of 1951.

On June 1, 1954, he married Phyllis Safarik at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elba, Nebraska. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this year.  Through the years of their marriage, they were fortunate to travel together to Europe, Hawaii and the tropical islands.  They made frequent trips to Las Vegas and made many fond memories.

While LaVern was in high school, he was employed by Loup City Farm Equipment, Inc. and he continued to work there for thirty-nine years.  LaVern became a business partner and retired from the business in 1988.  He later worked at Kearney Fairbanks International Harvester for two years and was later employed by Ken’s Equipment in Loup City for twenty two years in the parts/service department. 

LaVern was a sports enthusiast.  He especially enjoyed football and softball.  He umpired baseball and softball games and officiated basketball and football games for many years. LaVern was a basketball coach for Loup City Catholic Schools for four years and a volunteer coach for many years as well. He was an avid Nebraska football fan.  He especially loved to attend his children and grandchildren’s sporting events.  He was the “unofficial scorekeeper” for all their games. LaVern had many hobbies.  He was a coin collector and an avid antique collector, especially collecting International Harvester toy tractors and memorabilia. He enjoyed gardening and playing cards when he wasn’t working.  LaVern assisted with the yearly garage sales and Junk Jaunt collecting money and talking to all of their customers.  LaVern loved to bring joy to others.  One of his favorite joys was to play Santa for the Loup City Community and was a tradition at many family gatherings.  LaVern enjoyed listening and dancing to Polka music. Lavern belonged to many organizations in Loup City.  He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council #5455 for sixty two years and held many offices, including Grand Knight.  LaVern was committed to the BINGO committee and called numbers and sold pickle cards weekly.  LaVern was also a member of the Loup City Fire Department and was elected Fire Chief from 1965-1971.  He was a member of the Loup City Lions Club and the Loup City Chamber of Commerce. He was an active member of St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church for sixty two years. LaVern was a devoted father, grandfather, great grandfather, and husband. His life was a testament of his strong Catholic faith.  LaVern will be dearly missed by his family and everyone who knew him. 

LaVern is survived by his wife Phyllis of 62 years and his five children – Donald (Karen) Mroczek of Columbus, Linda (Paul) Younes of Kearney, David (Cheryl) Mroczek of Minden, Lori (Gary) Eurek of Loup City, and Diane (Rick) Bell of Aurora.  He cherished his twenty grandchildren – Nick, Matt, Kyle, Kari, and Cody Mroczek; J. Paul Younes, Maggie Holz, and Tan Chaowalit; Sydney Kobza, Adam Mroczek, Molly Mertz and Casie Olson; Phillip Mroczek, Channing, Jessica and Vincent Eurek; and Jacob, Nathan, Kristin, and Andrew Bell.  He was also survived by 18 great grandchildren.

LaVern also is survived by his sisters, Marian (Jim) Palu of Loup City; Pat (Don) Arnold of Ord; Jan (Greg) Jelden of Keene; brothers, Tom Mroczek of York and Ron (Peg) Mroczek of Loup City;  sister-in-law, Marge Mroczek of Loup City and many nieces and nephews.

LaVern was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Clementine Mroczek and one brother Raymond Mroczek.

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