Memorials › Emil Carl Smolik

Emil Carl Smolik

24 Jun 1915 – 1 Jul 2009

Birth24 Jun 1915
Death1 Jul 2009
CemeteryEvergreen Memorial Park Cemetery
Omaha , Douglas County , Nebraska , USA
Added byLovina on 25 Jun 2021
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39085707

Bio

The Douglas County Post-Gazette; Elkhorn, Nebraska, Tuesday, July 14, 2009; page 6 Emil C. Smolik of Elkhorn was born on June 24, 1915, to Lou J. and Emma Cernik Smolik. He and his wife, Lillian Vincent Smolik, were married on June 12, 1939, and they recently celebrated their 70th anniversary. Soon after their marriage they moved from the Ord, Nebraska, area to Omaha, where Emil pursued a career as a welder. After the onset of WWII, they returned to the Ord area and farming. Emil enjoyed flying, and in 1947 purchased an Aeronca Chief (one of his many aircraft). During the 1949 blizzard his plane was equipped with skis, allowing him to fly rescue missions for the Red Cross and to make mail drops. His airplane also permitted him quick access to maintain his harvesting crews as they worked the wheat harvest from Oklahoma to South Dakota. In 1987 he was inducted into the International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas, to commemorate his contribution to the field of aviation. His love of flying was passed down to his family, producing four more pilots. In 1951 he and his family moved to Schuyler, Nebraska, where they established Schuyler Propane, the first propane/service plant in the area. That plant expanded into PropaneSupply based in Columbus, Nebraska, plus seven other plants throughout Nebraska. In the late l960's the company was purchased by Northern Propane, which allowed Emil and Lillian to return to the Omaha area. They settled south of Elkhorn near West Dodge Road in the Crest Mobile Home Park they had purchased. At that same location they established and built Camper City USA and West Dodge Storage. His final retirement came in 1999 at the age of 84. Emil was always a hard worker who enjoyed his work; he was an inventor and could fix anything. He lived an interesting life and could spend hour after hour sharing his successes and failures with family and friends. Emil and Lillian enjoyed touring and sightseeing in America, Mexico and Canada in their motor home, as well as spending time visiting friends and family. Emil died on July 1, 2009 at his home at the age of 94. To his family, he will be remembered as a man of faith, a man who believed in God and prayer. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ellen Smolik Bonne. Emil is survived by his wife, Lillian; and their children, son, Dr. Vincent Smolik and daughter, Angie; seven grandchildren: Kevin, Kelly, Connie, Stacy, Kimberly, Chad and Shawn; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include his brother, Emanuel Smolik and wife Clare, and sister, Edna Smolik Ptacik. Services were held on July 7 at West Center Chapel in Omaha. A graveside service was held on July 8 at Evergreen Memorial Park. Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler in Omaha handled the arrangements. Contributor: Lovina (48200946)

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