Memorials › Clifford Koutnik
Clifford Koutnik
12 Nov 1925 – 19 Nov 2000
| Birth | 12 Nov 1925 |
| Death | 19 Nov 2000 |
| Cemetery | Laurel Hill Cemetery Neligh , Antelope County , Nebraska , USA |
| Added by | Laurie Ober-Young Twibell on 18 Feb 2024 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9949678 |
Bio
Thanks to contributor #47697610; The Columbus Telegram, 21 Nov 2000 Neligh—Clifford Koutnik, 75, of Neligh, formerly of Columbus, died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2000, at the Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh. Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Neligh with Rev. Ray Avidano officiating. Burial is at the Laurel Hill Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 172 and VFW Post 5287. Visitation is 3-8 p.m. today at the Beyer Funeral Home in Neligh. Mr. Koutnik was born Nov. 12, 1925, in Abie to Joseph and Kamilla (Kominski) Koutnik. He graduated from Schuyler High School in 1943. He worked in California before entering the Army in World War II. He served in Europe with the 69th Infantry Division, Cannon Company. He received the EAME Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was discharged on April 8, 1946, as a private first class. After the war, he played the piano and arranged music professionally for dance bands in Chicago and the Midwest. He played with many bands throughout the years including Ray Pearl, Bobby Mills, Dwain Muller, Lonnie Lynn, Sammy Jensen, Bobbie Layne and Guy Lombardo. He had a combo, "The Meltones," that played for 26 years. In 1964, he played the piano for Voice of America Radio "Farewell to Prague." He was inducted into the Polka Hall of Fame in 1998. He joined the U.S. Postal service in 1957 in Columbus as a mail carrier. He became postmaster at Dwight in 1972 and the postmaster at Neligh in 1975. He retired in 1987. He was president of the Nebraska League of Postmasters in 1976 and Postmaster of the Year in 1984. He married Penny Hoofer Jan. 16, 1947, at Palmyra, Mo. He was a member of the church, the Antelope Country Club and American Legion Post 172 in Neligh. He is survived by his wife, three sons, Kevin (Sandy) Koutnik of Genoa, Jeff (Susan) Koutnik of Washington, Va., and Randy Koutnik of Bellevue, and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, one sister, one brother and two half-sisters.
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