Memorials › Jerome Valentine Srb

Jerome Valentine Srb

1884 – 1949

Birth1884
Death1949
CemeteryBohemian National Cemetery
Dodge , Dodge County , Nebraska , USA
Added byHultquist, Jack on 15 Feb 2010
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47625641

Bio

CLICK on the photos for more family history. Jerome Valentine Srb and Viola had one child, Adrian. _______ Lincoln Febr. 20 – 1948 Dear Ardath (Jerome's sister probably in Calif.), . ………. . I shall give you a brief account of the activities of February 14th. Fritz (Warren Srb, Adolph's son) came to Lincoln at two p.m. to get Jo Ann(Fritz's sister), Marianne (Fritz's cousin) and me (Jerome). We arrived in Omaha (Adolphs) about 3:30. First we lunched on fresh baking. Then I visited with Doc (Adolph, Jerome's brother). We recalled the olden days played Czech records and sipped brandy – I mean coffee. J. J.'s (Jerome's brother Dr. J.J. Srb and Agnes) arrived from Dwight (Nebr.) at about five. At around six Gilbert (Jerome's brother Dr. Gilbert Srb from Dodge, Nebr.) and his family got in. Finally Helen(Srb Kovar, Jerome's sister) with Riley (her son) and family completed the group. At 6:30 we sat down to a loaded table – Duck, dumplings & K. (sauerkraut), salad, all sorts of fine baking, jello with cream, pie, cake, Kramflecky or Podsve, those things baked on tins, were only a few of the items. Judy, Riley's daughter first gave thanks, next the group sang "Happy Birthday", and finally started the feasting. Every thing was so good that everyone ate far more than was sane. There were four birthday cakes from friends & relatives. I received many fine undeserved gifts. After the feast came music. Doc (Adolph) had assembled musicians to make up an orchestra. Czech polkas & waltzes came first. Then old time music father's band and orchestra played more than 40 years ago. Even Dad's old funeral marches were given a try. By that time the youngsters had organized a dance down in the basement. We watched them a while and then the four brothers retired to the sitting room to play Taroks. At about 1 a.m. (late night/early in the morning) came lunch. Helen (Kovar) had brought four gallons of her famous goulash. Was it good! When we finished the goulash we sang old time songs – harmonized. By the way during the early evening a photographer took pictures of the four brothers and of the family group. At about 2:30 a.m. (in the morning) Gilberts left & J. J. stayed over and of course there was more visiting. It was a fine get-together. I only wish you could have been there. I shall remember it as a memorable event of my life. Not because it was my birthday -. It was the fine, wholesome spirit of Dad's and Mother's family. In that spirit I could again see father and mother. . There was fun galore. There were even tears. Gilbert broke into sobs when they played the old funeral marches. . I was glad to have pictures taken of the four brothers. One of these times one of us is going to slip away silently to break that quartette. That's the inevitable. I want Adrian (Jerome's son) to have a picture of all. I was most pleased last fall to have Doc (Adolph) and Adrian learn to know each other in a better way. It did both of them good. I only regret that Adrian did not get to visit longer with his Aunt Ardath whom he likes and admires very much. . ….. . Doc (Adolph) is getting to feel fine. He was to do his first operation on Wednesday last at Genoa. . I must close now. With best wishes, and with many thanks, I am as ever . Jerome _____ _____ 1949 Howells, Nebr. Newspaper, Obituary of Jerome Srb SERVICES HELD FOR J. V. SRB at Dodge In the early days of the Dodge community the Srb Band played at almost all of the funerals. Composed chiefly of Joe Srb and his sons, the band played its funeral marches and funeral dirges by ear, using pieces that Mr. Srb had heard in Bohemia before coming to America. . Last year one of the Srb brothers, Professor Jerome Ve. Srb of Lincoln, decided that this old and unusual band music should be preserved and he made it a personal project to put the notes into written form. . Whenever he and his brother, Dr. Adolph of Omaha, Dr. J. J. of Dwight and Dr. Gilbert of Dodge, met for a visit, Jerome Srb would have them whistle the parts that each of them had played in the Srb Band. Then and there he would write the notes and later have a band of his nieces and nephews play and replay the pieces until they were correct. . A few weeks ago the writing of the music was completed and he told his brothers that when he died he wanted two of the songs played at his funeral. . And so it was that band music like that used generations ago, was heard Sunday afternoon at the Bohemian National cemetery at Dodge. The occasion was the funeral of Jerome Valentine Srb and as a large congregation of grieving relatives and friends stood beside the open tomb there floated across the rolling prairie the strains of ancient chords: and as they blended majestically with the whistling of the giant pines and the rattle of the drying fields of corn, they seemed to whisper ……. . What a mighty panorama the singing of songs, the strains of familiar music unfolds. It brings back memories of the boyhood of the departed when as a lad his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Srb, took up their residence in Cuming county north of Dodge. While he (Jerome) was still a boy they moved to town and when he completed the course of study in the Dodge schools he took up advanced work at the Fremont Normal to prepare himself for the teaching profession. . He first taught at Dwight and after serving there for four years at the head of the schools, he accepted the position of superintendent of the Howells public schools. That was in 1911 and for 23 years he wielded a wonderful influence for good in the community---both by precept and example. He was not only a successful teacher and disciplinarian, but he was a godly man, beloved and respected ---a gentleman in the true sense of the word. . During that time, in 1914, he married Miss Viola Morris of Exeter, whom he met while she was teaching in the high school at Dodge. In the 20 years that followed they entered into the spirit of the life of the community ---helpful in the church and in the social and civic circles of our town. In the meantime they built a modern residence and their homelife was shared by a son, Adrian Srb, in whom they instilled high ideals of true living. He showed his appreciation by close application to study, having received degrees in several outstanding universities --- now Dr. Adrian M. Srb, professor at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., doing research work in genetics. (2007 listed several places on the internet.) When his father's condition became serious he came to Omaha and was with him during the closing weeks of his life. . Mr. (Jerome) Srb attended the University of Nebraska every summer for a number of years and when the family left Howells in 1934 to live at Lincoln he entered the university and received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees. He then joined the university as supervisor of short courses and extension specialist. . The funeral was held Sunday afternoon and the family complied with every request he made concerning the details of the last rites. He desired to be laid to rest beside the grave of his wife in the Bohemian National cemetery at Dodge with services in the chapel, and Rev. B. A. Filipi, pastor of New Zion church at Clarkson, who officiated at his parents' and wife's funerals, preached a fine sermon on the text taken from … . and the holy rites closed with the soft strains of the funeral dirge that, too, became a part of the past to live on only in memory. . Those of the immediate family who survive the departed beside his son, Adrian, of Ithaca, N. Y., are his brothers, D r. J. J. Srb of Dwight, Dr. Adolph F. of Omaha and Dr. Gilbert J. of Dodge, two sisters, Mrs. Hellen Kovar of Omaha and Miss Ardath Srb of Long Beach, Calif.,and two grandchildren. . …. . he accomplished much in the span of life allotted him. No words can do justice to his strong character and upright manhood, and recognizing the benefit of the influence of his life, he has left a precious legacy to his family and friends. ……. . This summer he traveled to Schuyler to attend the wedding reception held for his niece, now Mrs. Richard Folda. Watching the young people dance, he pointed out this one and that one who had gone to school to him and he observed with satisfaction that he had never regretted being a teacher because his profession enabled him to guide, to shape and to influence the lives of many men and women. ……… _____ _____ 2007 - My understanding is after Jerome's funeral in 1949 all the Srbs and friends went to the local hall for food and dance. And they did dance. _____ _____ Lincoln or Omaha Newspaper 1949: Jerome V. Srb LINCOLN.---In the passing of Jerome V. Srb, director of short course and extension specialist at the college of agriculture, Nebraska lost one of its truly great teachers. He was a modest man and many times his humility cast a shadow over his greatness. He always preferred to see others recognized and his name remain in the background. He was a public speaker of real ability. He could ably substitute for any minister in any denomination. He could hold the attention of boys and girls in grade and high school because he possessed their enthusiasm, knew their language and loved them. He was always a welcome guest in any high school in the state. He spoke at patriotic gatherings and community meetings of all kinds. ….. . …. he attended summer schools. It was here that I (F. D. Keim) learned to know him and learned to know his scholastic ability and his sincerity of purpose. ……… . The close friendliness of Jerome Srb, his son's family and his three doctor brothers and sisters and their families is one of the fine examples that characterizes our great American family life. It is always a pleasure to pay tribute to such a useful life. F. D. Keim Chairman, Department of Agronomy College of Agriculture. . (This is the person that Keim Hall on UNL East Campus is name after.) _____

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