John J. Culek, 94, of Cheyenne and formerly of Pine Bluffs, died in Cheyenne on Thursday, March 17, 2011.  Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Pine Bluffs with Father Killian Muli officiating.  Burial will be in the Kimball Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 1:00 until 7:00 p.m.  Rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball.  Memorials have been established to Knights of Columbus, Columbia Council #7789 for their charitable projects.  The service for John has been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

 

John Joseph Culek was born in Bruno, Nebraska on October 28, 1916, the son of Frantisek “Frank” and Bonzenka “Bessie” (Hoskovec) Culek.  He was raised in the Kimball area and graduated from the Kimball County High School.  John attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, majoring in agriculture.  He met Evelyn May Anderson at a Junior Farm Bureau meeting and they were married on October 20, 1948 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Kimball.  They moved to a farm southwest of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming.  He then spent his life farming and being a good steward of the land.  John was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and helped found the Columbia Council in Pine Bluffs.  He was an active participant in many organizations and often held official positions within them.  These included Farm Bureau, Saint Paul’s Catholic Church, Diocesan Pastoral Council, and the Democratic Party.  In 2005 he and Evelyn moved to Aspen Winds Assisted Living facility in Cheyenne.

 

Survivors include his children Emily (Del) Howery of Pavilion, WY., John (Becky) Culek, Jr.  of Pine Bluffs, WY., Fred (Pam) Culek of Cheyenne, WY., Mary (J) Pearson of Avoca, IA., Marie (Joe) Shutty of Cheyenne, WY., Earl (Laura) Culek of Plattsmouth, NE., and Betty Larson and Joe Overson of Eureka, NV; 12 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelyn, two brothers Bernard and Frances and a daughter Janet Kay Schooner