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Fredrick
Peter Matulka, 85, died Wednesday at Omaha Walnut Grove RLC. He was born November
20th, 1928, in Bee, Nebraska to Mary Trousil and Joseph Matulka. He attended country school
for eight years and worked on the family farm. Enlisted in the Army at 18 became a military
policeman and worked on his GED when not on duty. After earning a High School diploma, and
discharged from the Army, he attended Boyles College in Omaha studying to be a freight
agent/telegrapher.
The highlight of his life was when he met a
wonderful woman named Mary Ann Wardyn at the bowling alley in Grand Island. They
married in 1950 at St Josaphat Catholic Church in Loup City, moved to Omaha for a short time
and settled back in Grand Island for over 60 years where they had eight children. About
two years ago he moved to Omaha to be closer to his
children.
Fred was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church in
Grand Island, St Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church in Omaha, the Knights of Columbus,
Transportation Communication International Union, and Morse Telegraph Club. He was very
active in his children’s activities coaching softball for his daughters and baseball for his
sons, a Boy Scout Leader, and was an active member of the Booster Club at Central Catholic
High School. He was an avid hunter, golfer, bowler, and fisherman. He was a very kind,
outgoing, loving husband, father and friend to all.
Fred worked for the Union Pacific Railroad 43
years. Twenty of them as a telegrapher sending and receiving messages between Rail
Roads and the Western Union. He finished his career with Union Pacific as a freight
agent at Grand Island and Central City. After retirement, he volunteered at the VA
Hospital in Grand Island as a Librarian. He became a devoted caretaker to his lovely
bride the last 10 years of her life after she survived a serious operation. He then
applied his managerial skills in the kitchen, doing laundry, shopping, clean-up and learned
new skills as a nurse aid.
Survivors include his eight
children and their spouses: Lu & (Kent) Pavelka of Omaha, Kathie & (Tim) Moffett of Troy,
MT, Pat & (Dave) Gilmore of Gretna, Fred & (Deb) Matulka of Lincoln, Sue Matulka &
(David Vaughn) River Falls, WI, Mark & (Pam) Matulka of Olathe, KS, George & (Erin) Matulka
of Alliance, Tim & (Jennifer) Matulka of Gretna; along with 25 grandchildren, 22
great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many nephews,
nieces, cousins and friends.
Visitation Tuesday, July 8, 2014 from 4-8pm with family present after
6pm, Rosary Service at 7pm at Braman Mortuary Southwest Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial 10:30am
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 16701 "S" St. Omaha.
Inurnment 11am Thursday, July 10, 2014 at West Lawn Memorial Park, 3826 W Stolley Park Rd, Grand
Island, NE.
Memorials to St Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church in Omaha or
Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island
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