Anna M. Tichacek
1857-1941
Born: Akres Prestice, Kraj Plsen, Bohemia
Died: Wilber, Saline, Nebraska
Mrs. Anna Kohout, maiden name Tihacek, was born Nov. 1, 1857, in Kraj Plsen, Akres Prestice, Czechoslovakia, and passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs Stanley Vosika, in Wilber, Nebraska at the age of 83 years, 11 months abd 17 days. She came to America at the age of 13 years, with her parents in 1871, to Chicago, Ill, where she was left with some friends and for three years lived two blocks from the place of the big fire. At one time for a whole month she kept her clothes packed ready to leave if the fire should come that way. She carried water for her landlady from Lake Michigan, a distance of about 20 blocks. In 1874 she came to Linwood, Nebraska, where her parents were homesteading. As the grasshoppers had cleaned up all the crops, she had to look for work and secured employment in a private home, later working at the Grand Central Hotel in Omaha. Here she met and married Vaclav Kohout in 1876. They lived in Omaha four years, then moved to a farm in Saunders county, near Valparaiso, where they resided 12 years. The country was just a bare prairie without a tree or building. They built a hut, a half dug-out, with board sides and roof. There was no wood to burn, and no money to buy coal. The only firewood was corn stalks brought from the neighboring fields. The winter was cold and snow fell till it covered the house. They ground corn on a coffee grinder, mixed it with water and baked it in the oven. They had two children and three more were born in this shack. Later they built a two room house where another child was born. This home burned to the ground and very few of the household goods were saved. Another house was built, where twins were added to the family. Privation, hard work, and self-scarifice were her lot. She was a devoted wife and mother, with whom her husband and children always came first. In 1893 they sold their farm and moved to Saline County to a farm 16 miles northwest of Wilber. The dry years of 93 and 95 (NOTE: this is 1893 & 1895) hit them hard. Here another child was born. The youngest child died Jan. 28, 1906.  Six months later one of the twins was accidently shot by a friend, and died July 8, 1906. One by one the children married and in 1917 she and her husband were alone again. In 1925 they retired to Wilber on account of her husband's health, and made their home with their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley B. Vosika. Her husband passed away Oct 12, 1929. Her eldest daughter, Marie Laffer, passed away Jan 30, 1938. On Oct. 11, 1933, she was hit by an auto and badly hurt and had been an invalid ever since. She was confined to her bed for 21 months preceding her death. She leaves to mourn her death five sons: Mayor Vaclav J. of Wilber, Chas. of Western, Emil of Clarinda, Iowa, Gus of Beaver Crossing and George of Friend; one daughter, Mrs Tillie Vosika of Wilber, Nebr. ; Twelve grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; one brother, John Tichacek of Linwood, Nebr.. Preceding her in death were her husband Vaclav Kohout; two sons, Arthur and Joseph, and daughter, Mrs. Marie Hummel-Laffer. Funeral services were held from the Shimerda Funeral Home at Wilber, Sunday, Oct 19, 1941 at 2:00 o'clock with Rev. K. O. Zavadil in charge. The ladies trio sang. Interment was made in North Fork cemetery.