John R. Ulch
John R. Ulch
Sept. 29, 1932 – March 15, 2020
John Richard Ulch was born Sept. 29, 1932, in Elberon (Tama County), Iowa, to Fred Bohemial and Tillie (Vochaska) Ulch and passed away March 15, 2020, in Lincoln at the age of 87 years, 5 months and 15 days.
John attended school in Elberon through seventh grade and completed his education as a graduate of Belle Plaine High School. John served in the U.S. Navy from February 1952 to February 1956 and served aboard the USS Pickaway APA 222.
On Feb. 10, 1957, he married Alice Ann Mouchka of Belle Plaine, Iowa, at the First Congregational Church. To this union, four sons were born, John D., David, Brian and Craig. During this time, he worked on heavy equipment for road construction and for Funk Brother Seed Company. In 1973, Funk Seeds transferred John and his family to Nebraska to start a corn research station near Goehner. In 1988, John retired from the seed corn business. After enjoying a year of he and Alice traveling extensively around the United States, he spent several years working part time for Todd Ricenbaw and Jerry Hackbart as a farm hand.
John served 16 years as a volunteer in the Belle Plaine, Iowa, fire department and in 1999, John retired after 25 years as a member of the Goehner Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ of Goehner and the Beaver Crossing American Legion Post 178. John was a life member of the Seward VFW Post 4755. He enjoyed being with his family, deer hunting, fishing, playing cards and traveling.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; parents, Fred and Tillie Ulch; brothers, Dale, Harold and Johnnie; parents-in-law, George and Nadene Mouchka; brother-in-law, Donald Mouchka; and sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Ulch.
John is survived by his sons, John D. Ulch of Lochbuie, Colorado, David and Tami Ulch of Elkhorn, Brian “Fred” Ulch of Goehner and Craig Ulch of Portland, Texas; four grandchildren, Derek Ulch and Austin Ulch, both of Omaha, and Haley Gabel Rogers and Sara Ulch of Santa Maria, California; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Joyce and Blair Williams of Marion, Iowa, Donna and Ron Pyle of Prosper, Texas, Joyce Ulch of Cedar Hill, Missouri, and Dean and Roxie Mouchka of Wheatland, Iowa; cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home in Seward, with the family receiving friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, at Friedens United Church of Christ in Goehner, with the Rev. Pam Williams officiating. A graveside service and inurnment will be in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Vining, Iowa, at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Military honors will be conducted by the Belle Plaine American Legion Post 39 and the U.S. Navy. Memorial contributions may be made to the Goehner Friedens United Church of Christ. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
