Dean Brichacek

Dean Brichacek, 85, of Schuyler, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 22, 2024 while making his daily rounds at the farm.

Memorials can be directed towards Family Wishes for later designation.  

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, December 28, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Schuyler. Visitation will be on Friday from 5 until 7 p.m. at the church with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume on Saturday, from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment with military honors will be at the Schuyler Cemetery with lunch following at St. Mary's Social Hall. Svoboda Moravec Johnson is handling arrangements for Dean’s family.

Dean Emil Brichacek was born November 24, 1939 in Columbus to Lillian and Milo Brichacek. He attended country school at District 25 and graduated from Schuyler Central High school in 1958. He worked at Vondracek Oil.

Dean married Shirley Ostrander in 1960 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Heun. In 1963 he joined the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. During his time in the Navy, Dean and Shirley lived in San Diego, California where he was based from 1963 to 1966. While he served his tour of duty, Dean was on the assault craft on the USS Estes ship where he was a chief engineer in the engine room. He received the Navy Achievement Medal for meritorious service from April 14 to September 17, 1965. They welcomed their first child, Kevin in 1964 in San Diego, California. Shirley moved back to Nebraska and Dean later joined her after being overseas right in time for the birth of Kenneth. They later had two more children; Sandy and Nancy.

While his kids were growing, Dean enjoyed being a leader of the Four-Leaf Clover 4H club, raising hogs, farming, and collecting antique Ford tractors. He was a member of the VFW and a lifetime member for the Knights of Columbus.

Dean worked many years running the station currently known as Schuyler Co-op. He welcomed all of his customers with a smile and a friendly conversation. Dean retired from managing the co-op on December 31st, 2018. He never ran out of things to do. Between chasing around grandkids at sporting events, welcoming his grandkids and great grandkids with his famous baby blanket, working with his farm equipment, and spending his weekends traveling to estate sales, antique sales, and flea markets - there was never a time he wasn’t doing something that brought him joy. 

Dean was loved and known by so many. He was known for always having snacks for his grandkids and great grandkids. He taught his grandkids some of the best polka songs - In Heaven there is No Beer and Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie. He was the best Bingo caller and mediator when the game got out of hand every Thanksgiving. He spent his days out at his farm, working in his shed he was proud of or tending his garden. It was normal to find him working on various farm projects. He was introduced to Amazon by Nancy which only made his list of projects grow as he figured out how easy it was to buy tractor parts online. You could also find him feeding his cats - he always provided them with the finest cat food, milk, and hotdogs. Dean received the Quilt of Valor on November 10th, 2022. Dean was a good man and an even better family man. He left imprints on many hearts in his 85 years of life.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley of 64 years, his kids: Kevin and Kendell Brichacek of Linwood, NE, Kenneth Brichacek and Holly Tichota of Schuyler, NE, Sandy and Brad Renner of Linwood, NE, Nancy and Clint Faltys of Schuyler, NE. Grandchilden Jason Sindelar, Justin Sindelar, Jarrod Brichacek, Kolbie Sweeney, Ashlie Stone, Molly Lopez, Josenya Brichacek, Maddy Renner, Jackson Faltys, and Mason Faltys, 15 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild and one brother Dennis and Linda Brichacek of Schuyler. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; Lillian and Milo Sr. Brichacek, his brother and sister-in-law Milo and Dorothy Brichacek, his father and mother-in-law Everett and Elizabeth Ostrander, his brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Joann Ostrander, his nephew Blaine Sidders, his nephew Brian Flynn, and brother-in-law John Flynn.