Benedict J. Kobza

Benedict "Ben" J. Kobza, 77, of Bellwood, died Monday, February 14, 2011 at St. Josephs's Villa in David City.
Benedict Kobza was born October 31, 1933 to Emil and Elizabeth(Duhon) Kobza of Brainard. Ben was born into a family of twelve children with him being the second youngest in the family. His formative years were spent growing up on a farm during the Great Depression. He spent countless hours farming with his father and brothers around Brainard, Nebraska. Ben started farming at this young age, during a time when everything was done with horse drawn equipment and water came only from a creek or a windmill. Ben truly loved the farm and also operated an extensive cattle operation with cows and calves and feedlot cattle. His favorite view was wide open unobstructed irrigated farm ground, he also loved calving season in the spring. In Ben's life he saw agriculture transform from the early years of horse drawn equipment to the high tech farming days of today. In the early 1970's, Ben's family was nominated as Farm Family of the Week. Ben was an excellent farm operator and knew the value of effort and hard work, but he also enjoyed his family cabin on Brandenburg Lake. He loved boating, water skiing, snow skiing and spending time with family and friends. Ben farmed in the Bellwood area for forty years and officially retired Friday, February 13, 1998. Ben married Delores Lavicky September 17, 1955. They raised five children, Karen, Les, Susan, Jerry and Keith. Ben was on the NRD Board, a member of Saint Peters Catholic Church in Bellwood.
Ben was preceded in death by: his parents: Emil and Elizatbeth (Duhon) Kobza and his brother, Emil; Brothers-in-law: Tony Radanovich, Lloyd McGough, John Hottovy, John Bloom; Nephews: Richard Duffek and Steve McGough.
Ben is survived by: former wife Delores; Daughters and sons: Karen (Terry) Sylvester of Bellwood, NE; Les (Margo) of White Bear Lake, MN; Susan (Tom) Markuson of Cupertino, CA; Jerry (Lisa Marie) of Columbus, NE; Keith (Lauren) of Smithtown, NY; Sisters: Rose Radanovich, of Omaha, NE; Alice (Sam) Lipton, Clinton, MD; Margaret McGough, Mobile, AL; Agnes Hottovy, Columbus, NE; Marie (Bill) Collopy, Battle Creek, MI; Bette Bloom, Phoenix, AR; Gabriella Rezny, Wilber, NE; Helen (Richard) Duffek, Bee, NE; Dorothy (John) Lavicky, Dwight, NE. Brother: Bernard (Patricia), Omaha, NE; 7 Grandchildren: Tonya Lauterbach, Tracey Macken, Casey Nickolite, Dustin Scow, Christopher Markuson, Alyssa Kobza and Kyle Kobza; 8 Great grandchildren: Karrissa, Seth, and Austin Nickolite, Kylee, Jadyn, and Dalton Macken, Caira and Collin Lauterbach; 49 nieces and nephews.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 17, at St. Peters Catholic Church with Fr. Jay Buhman, officiating.
Visitation will be from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wednesday at Chermok Funeral Home in David City and after 6:00 pm at St. Peter's Catholic Church followed by a 7:00 pm Rosary. Additional Viewing will be Thursday one hour before services at the Church.
Burial will be in Sts. Peter & Mary Cemetery, Bellwood.
Memorials are suggested "In Care of the Family".