John (Jack) Joseph Hlavac

John J. (Jack) Hlavac, 92, Lawrence, Nebraska passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at the Cove House in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Rosary will be Friday, March 12, 2021, 5:00 p.m. and Mass will be Saturday, March 13, 2021, 1:30 p.m. both at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lawrence, Nebraska with Father Corey Harrison officiating.  Burial with Military Rites by Kent Kailey Post #45 and the Marine Military Honors Team will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Lawrence, Nebraska.  Visitation will be on Friday, March 12, 2021 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at the Lawrence Visitation Chapel, Lawrence, Nebraska.  Memorials an be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutlermortuary.com.  The service will be livestreamed through the Church’s Face Book Page at Sacred Heart & St. Stephen-Lawrence and Our Lady of Assumption-Deweese.  Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.

John Hlavac was born to Adolph and Ann (Janda) Hlavac on September 29, 1928 in the farmhouse four miles east of Lawrence, Nebraska.  The youngest of six children, he graduated in 1945 from Lawrence High School.

John married Dorothea Maria Schlick on August 20, 1951 at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church in Hastings, Nebraska.  They lived on the family farm near Lawrence until Jack was inducted into the United States Marine Corps on February 15, 1952.  Corporal John J. Hlavac served one year in Korea as a Radar Equipment Foreman and Radar Technician.  He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 2 stars and the United Nations Service Medal.  After an honorable discharge on January 27, 1954, he and Dorothea designed and built their home in Lawrence, Nebraska where they raised their family.  As a master electrician, Jack and his brother Ed, served the people of Lawrence and surrounding communities through their business, the Hlavac Hardware Store.  In addition he raised cattle on the Hlavac family farm.

John and Dorothea danced together more than 55 years.  After Dorothea’s passing, he later danced with his friend, Dolores Kucera.  John was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the American Legion.  John enjoyed traveling to the Czech Republic where he toured the community his father’s family immigrated from in 1900.  He visited the Holy Land, Jerusalem.  John was awarded the Honor Flight, being recognized for his service in Korea.  John was an avid whistler.  His happy tunes could be heard daily on his walks downtown to play cards.  He was most happy spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothea, his parents, Adolph and Ann, brother Ed, and four sisters, Helen Schutte, Frances Doerfler, Mary Muruaga and Lucille Wonka.

John is survived by his five children, Joe (Linda) Hlavac, Roca, Nebraska, John (Stephanie) Hlavac, Middleton, Tennessee, Jill (Roger) Miller, Sheridan, Wyoming, Julie (John) Yarsinsky, Marlton, New Jersey, Jeff (Tonia) Hlavac, Lincoln, Nebraska, thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

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