Kevin R. Soukup, 73 years old, passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Ridgewood Rehabilitation & Care Center in Seward, Nebraska.
Kevin was born on November 20, 1950, in David City, Nebraska to Raymond and Mildred (Chmelka) Soukup. He had two older siblings, Wayne (Linda) Soukup and Cheryl (Harold) DeWispelare and two younger siblings, Kathy (John) Smith and Keith Soukup.
In 1968 Kevin graduated from East Butler High School and went on to college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972 in Russian. After college, he backpacked throughout Europe spending time in Britian, France, and Czechoslovakia.
In the following years Kevin lived and worked in Lincoln and Omaha and ultimately moved to Chicago where he spent many happy years. While in Chicago, Kevin worked mostly in retail bookstores - much to the delight of his nieces who were frequent recipients of their favorite books. Kevin made many lifelong friends during his time in Chicago, and they spent a lot of time together watching foreign films, shopping, volunteering, and enjoying opera. After Kevin moved back home to Nebraska, about ten years ago, his closest friends kept in touch with him and many continued to send him cards and letters after he moved to Kinship Pointe, and later Ridgewood Rehab & Care Center, as a result of the effects of Parkinson’s Disease.
Kevin is survived by two siblings: sister, Kathy (John Smith) of Beggs OK, and brother, Keith Soukup of David City, NE; nieces and nephews: Shelley Aksamit, Tracey Goodman, Micki Gilfry, Esther Rathjen, Tonia Soukup, Nickie Schnoor, Dusty Soukup, Aaron Rerucha, Ryan Rerucha, Mindy Smith-Halford, Dana Smith, Jonny Smith, and Brittany Smith as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Wayne Soukup; and sister, Cheryl DeWispelare.
Services to be scheduled at a later date.