Memorials › Maurice Milton "Moe" Moravec

Maurice Milton "Moe" Moravec

14 Feb 1927 – 9 Sep 2015

Birth	14 Feb 1927
Death	9 Sep 2015
Cemetery	Papillion Cemetery Papillion , Sarpy County , Nebraska , USA
Added by	Don on 19 Dec 2019
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152193575

Bio

Moe served in the Korean War 1950-1952; managed Hinky Dinky stores in Lincoln and Omaha 1952-1959; franchised distributor for Archway Cookies 1959-1975; owner of Moe Ties Company; operated Moe's Steakhouse in Papillion 1976-1984; operated the Roam Inn Dance Club 1986-1992. Moe was a longtime member of the American Legion Club, served as a Papillion City Councilman, received the Top Sales Award by Archway Cookies, and President Ronald Reagan personally presented Moe an Award of Recognition for his help. Preceded in death by parents John and Pauline (Zavodny) Moravec; brother Adrian "Deuce"; sisters, Rosemarie "Rosie" Zimmer, Beatrice "Bea" Rist; stepson Charles Burke, grandson Jeffrey Moravec. Survived by longtime friend and companion Mary Vinzant and her son Kevin (Tina) Vinzant; sons, Michael (Nancy), Mark (Maureen); stepdaughter Susan (Ron) Bena; and by a number of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and wonderful neighbors; also a beloved dog named Browni. VISITATION Monday beginning at 5pm with MEMORIAL SERVICE 6pm Bethany Funeral Home Chapel. Private interment Papillion Cemetery with military honors by Papillion American Legion Post 32 Honor Guard. BETHANY FUNERAL HOME 82nd & Harrison LaVista, NE. 402-593-6100 ------------------------- From the Omaha World Herald Newspaper: An outgoing people person, Maurice "Moe" Moravec was an entrepreneur who worked in the grocery, cookie, dance hall and restaurant businesses, also serving in the Army and as a Papillion City Council member. Moravec died Wednesday at age 88. At his service today, friends and relatives will celebrate mementos from Moravec's life, including: A menu with a butterfly on the cover from Moe's Steakhouse, the Papillion restaurant Moravec owned and operated from 1975 to 1984. A caricature depicting Moravec with an elongated nose and eyes with deep shadows. It accompanied Moravec's weekly columns that ran as paid ads in weekly newspapers and occasionally in The World-Herald for about 10 years. "He was not afraid to speak his mind, whatever he believed in," said Mary Vinzant, a friend and companion for 25 years. Following his service in the Korean War, Moravec managed Hinky Dinky grocery stores for seven years and later was a franchiser for Archway Cookies, while creating a side business called MoeTies that sold men's neckties at supermarkets. "He was a guy who was a hard worker for his whole life," said his son Michael Moravec. "He's a blue-collar kind of a guy ... a self-made businessman." Moravec mixed work and play when he started the Roam Inn Dance Club in 1986 with a handful of partners, managing it for six years. Bands played country, polka and big-band music five nights a week for about 200 people. He enjoyed playing accordion and continued to play in his 70s and early 80s at a nursing home. When not working, he enjoyed dancing with Vinzant and talking with the neighbors. "He looked forward to sitting on his porch," Vinzant said. "He was, all through his life, a people person." Moravec grew up in the village of Bee, Nebraska, and graduated from Seward High School. He served as a Papillion City Council member for three two-year terms. "He liked being of service to his community," Michael Moravec said. "Those are the things that made him proud." Moravec died of complications from congestive heart failure and prostate cancer, his son said. Though his body was weak, Moravec's mind stayed strong. "He was still shooting zingers at the nurses," Michael said. "He used that body all up. It was spent." In addition to Vinzant and Michael Moravec, Moe Moravec is survived by his son Mark Moravec, stepdaughter Susan Bena, and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The visitation is today starting at 5 p.m. with the memorial service at 6 p.m. at Bethany Funeral Home, 8201 Harrison St. in La Vista.

Photos

Family

Parents

Siblings

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family