Joe D. Zavitka, of Seward, was born Sept. 24, 1939, to Joe and Fern (Vogt) Zavitka, and passed away Feb. 20, 2023, in Seward, at the age of 83 years, 4 months and 27 days.
Joe grew up on a farm outside of Elba, where he graduated from high school. As a teenager, he played football, basketball, track and baseball. As an adult, he played men’s fast-pitch softball. Joe helped his parents farm until their retirement.
Joe attended Norfolk Junior College and then Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney, where he received his bachelor’s degree. His master’s degree was from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Both degrees were in education. Joe began teaching social studies, but for most of his career taught typing. Joe was with the Farnam and Inman school districts before moving to Seward, where he was a junior high teacher for 35 years.
Joe was an avid track and field enthusiast. He traveled to high school and college track meets in Nebraska and around the country, including the NCAA indoor and outdoor meets and Olympic track trials. Joe was inducted into the Nebraska Relay Club Hall of Fame in 2000. He was a University of Nebraska football and men’s basketball season ticketholder for more than 50 years. As a Chicago White Sox fan, he traveled to their baseball games each summer.
Joe enjoyed playing cards with a group of friends for more than 55 years. It was a good night if he won $5. He had an annual garden where he grew sweet corn, tomatoes, potatoes and cabbage. In Joe’s retirement years, he made regular visits to Southern California to visit family. Joe navigated the streets of Los Angeles, walking to the farmer's market for treats and to pick up his daily newspaper. He had favorite food haunts in L.A. and helped his daughter, Renee, with her lawn. As a United States history enthusiast, Joe and Renee traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., to celebrate Joe’s 80th birthday.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents; and sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Gerhardt Hemmann. Survivors include daughter, Renee Zavitka; son-in-law, Warren Curry; and grandson, Alexander Curry of Burbank, California; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Mary Ann Zavitka of Sun City, California; Renee’s mother, Deborah Zavitka; other family members and many friends, colleagues and acquaintances will miss Joe’s sense of humor.
Visitation is from 1 – 8:30 p.m. at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home in Seward, with family receiving friends from 5 – 7 p.m. The funeral service is Thursday, March 2, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with interment at the Elba Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family for future designations. Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
