A Mass of Christian Burial for Helen Pecinovsky of Protivin, IA was held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin with Rev. David M. Beckman officiating. Mass servers were Nick Meirick and Riley Meirick. Lector was Karla Dietzenbach, the Gift Bearers were Celia Neuzil, Helen Neuzil and Amy Schmitt, and the Eucharist Ministers were Bill Berka, Phyllis Mashek and Wendy Meirick. The organist was Marlene Pecinovsky and the singers were Daryl Kuehner and Harlan Mikota. The pallbearers were Keith Dietzenbach, Andy Schmitt, Cody Randall, Willie Schmitt, Ben Schmitt and John Schmitt. Interment was in Holy Trinity Cemetery in Protivin. 
    Conway Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
    Helen, 93, died Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco where she lived for the past six years.
     Helen Pecinovsky was born March 24, 1916, the daughter of Frank Alois and Mary (Riha) Stika in Howard County, Iowa. Helen grew up on a farm working with her father.
    On August 23, 1937 she married William G. Pecinovsky at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin. They farmed together for 35 years six miles North of Protivin where Helen had a large garden and did a lot of canning. She always had laying hens and raised ducks and geese. She helped her husband milk cows by hand until he purchased a milking machine. Helen made the best rye bread and shared it with many. Helen joined the Senior Citizens group in Protivin in 1972 and was president of the organization for 15 years.
    In 1973, Bill and Helen moved to Protivin. Helen kept up her gardening and did a lot of babysitting in Protivin. She also worked for a nursery where she planted trees in spring and at Wapsie Produce at Decorah in fall. Helen was a very caring and giving person and took great pride in her family. She enjoyed having her grandchildren come and stay over. Most of the children in the Protivin area called her Grandma Helen, even though she was not their grandmother.
    Helen's hobby was taking pictures and putting together albums for all to enjoy viewing. She also liked to write in her journal every day and work on family histories. One of the highlights in Helen's life was her trip to Czechoslovakia in 1992 with her daughter Rebecca Neuzil. After her husband passed away, Helen spent winters in Florida at her son's home.
    Helen's survivors include her daughter: Rebecca (Cyril) Neuzil of Spillville; sons: Dennis (Frances) Pecinovsky of Cresco, and Glen (Lulu)  Pecinovsky of Tallevast, FL; 11 grandchildren: Cathy Dietzenbach, Susan Schmitt, Steve J. Neuzil, Lorna Neuzil, Craig W. Neuzil, Colleen Randall, Shawn Pecinovsky, Linda Heiselman, Laura Smith, Denise Northup and Paul Pecinovsky; 25 great-grandchildren; and two half sisters: Lillian Rolfes, and Cecelia (Elmer) Rolfes; along with nephews and nieces.
    Helen was preceded in death by her husband in 1987; her mother in 1920; her father in 1946; sisters: Emma Pecinovsky, Elizabeth Marhoul, Edith Loberg; and brother: Edward Stika.

    A Mass of Christian Burial for Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.)Johnny E. Clark of Papillion, NE was held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 3, 2009 at St. Gerald Catholic Church in Omaha, NE with military honors by Offutt AFB Honor Guard.
    The family received friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 2 at the Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler Funeral Home in Omaha, NE.
    Johnny, 85, died Thursday, July 30, 2009, at the Hospice House, Josie Harper Residence in Omaha.
     Johnny Edward Clark was born in Cresco, the son of John C. and Anastasia (Moudry) Clark.
    He married Gloria A. Walsh on Nov 5, 1946. She preceded him in death.
    He married Joan (Pewsey) Stickrod Sept 5, 1998.
    Johnny's life was forever changed by World War II when his farm-boy aspirations of becoming a pilot were fulfilled by entering the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program right out of high school. He was proud to serve his country for 22 years in the Air Force, piloting over 20 types of planes from B-17s to B-47s, with over 8000 hours of flying time. During his service he enjoyed living abroad in England (during WW II), Germany (during the Berlin Airlift), and Italy. Johnny put himself though the military's "bootstrap" program, earning a BS general education and economics degree at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a Masters in economic development from the U of Oklahoma.
    After his retirement from the Air Force at age 42, he began a 20-year career as an Industrial Developer with Northern Natural Gas Company in Omaha, from which he retired in 1985.
    He enjoyed reading historical nonfiction, gardening, hunting, fishing, flying, attending air shows, listening to classical and polka music, and traveling. Throughout his life he was a globetrotter, making several trips to Russia, Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and around the U.S. Johnny was proud of his Czech ancestry. He loved the sun and liked being a Winter Texan with Joan in the Enchanted Village Ranch in Mission, Texas. In 2005 he published his biography, From Hayseed to Jet Pilot and Beyond, for which his family is forever grateful.
    He is survived by his wife Joan; a daughter: Kathleen Newman (Tom) of Champaign IL; a son: John Joseph Clark (Janet) of Lincoln, NE; a brother-in-law: Larry Walsh of San Diego, CA; a sister-in-law: Martha Clark of Cresco, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
    He was preceded in death by his wife: Gloria; his parents; a brother: Joseph; a sister: Mariann Hidding; and a brother-in-law: Thomas Hidding.

Posted on 7 August 2009 by Marie Thompson