Memorials › Emanuel Rudolph "Smokey" Smolik

Emanuel Rudolph "Smokey" Smolik

24 May 1923 – 24 Nov 2017

Birth24 May 1923
Death24 Nov 2017
CemeterySaint Joseph Catholic Cemetery
Alma , Harlan County , Nebraska , USA
Added byGreg Kelso on 27 Nov 2017
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88563907

Bio

Mass of Christian Burial for Emanuel R. Smolik were held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alma, Nebraska with Monsignor Paul Witt and Father Kishore Gorantla as con-celebrants. Interment was held in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery at Alma with military honors provided by the Fay Cady American Legion Post #118 in conjunction with the Offutt U.S. Air Force Base Honor Guard. Emanuel R. “Smokey” Smolik, 94 years of age, of Alma, passed away on Friday, November 24, 2017 at the Kearney County Health Services in Minden, Nebraska. Emanuel was born May 24, 1923, on the family farm near Ord, in Valley County, Nebraska, the youngest of five children born to Louis J. and Emma C. (Cernik) Smolik. Emanuel was baptized as an infant, and later confirmed as well at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Valley County. He received his primary education from the Fairview District #51 rural school near Ord, and then graduated from Ord High School with the class of 1940. He then pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska, College of Agriculture at Lincoln, Nebraska. When Emanuel was a “young buck”, he enjoyed playing baseball. When he reared back, and threw his fast ball…people said, “All you could see was a little puff of white smoke, like came out of a rifle when fired!” People began to call him, “Smokey”, a nickname that stayed with him for the remainder of his life. Following his education, Emanuel served in the United States Army Air Corps during WW II, until his honorable discharge on May 6, 1946. On July 20, 1944, he was united in marriage to Clara Olson while stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base in Amarillo, Texas. To this union four sons were born: Harold Lee, Glenn Trent, Paul James, and Mark Robert. After being discharged from the Air Force, Emanuel and Clara made their home at Ord, Nebraska, where he taught Adult Vocational Agriculture, and engaged in farming until 1963. In August of 1963, Emanuel began a career with the Agricultural Stabilization Service as County Executive Director for the Harlan County ASCS office until his retirement in 1990. During this time, Emanuel and Clara, and their sons: Harold, Paul, and Mark also owned and operated the Patterson Harbor Concession at Harlan County Reservoir from 1973 until 1996. Emanuel was an active member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alma. He was also a member of the Fay Cady American Legion Post #118 in Alma. Besides his parents, Emanuel was preceded in death by his son, Harold; three sisters: Emma Marie in infancy; Ellen Bonne; and Edna Ptacnik; one brother, Emil Smolik; and daughter-in-law, Karen Smolik. Emanuel leaves to celebrate his life; his wife of 73 years, Clara Smolik of Alma; three sons: Glenn Trent Smolik of Webster, Texas; Paul Smolik and his wife, Karen of Kearney, Nebraska; and Mark Smolik and his special friend, Pam Robinson of rural Alma; daughter-in-law, Jany Smolik of Newport Beach, California; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Lillian Smolik of Omaha, Nebraska, and Helen Wilson of Blair, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Visitation was held on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alma with the Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauaerfh.com A memorial has been established in Emanuel’s honor, and kindly suggested to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alma. The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma was in charge of the arrangements.

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