John Alan Hladky, age 76, 11 months, 20 days, of Stuart, passed away Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at West Holt Memorial Hospital in Atkinson.
John was born June 10, 1946, to Emanuel and Josephine (Vrbka) Hladky, along with twin sister, Janice (Hladky) Perkins, in Seward. John loved to play basketball and excelled with his team to become 1962 runner-up state champions in Class C high school basketball, and the following year, John assisted his team in winning the Class C state championship by scoring the last shot. He also participated in track, and holds the school record in high jump to this day. John graduated from Utica Public High School in 1964.
After high school, John adventured into the drag racing world with his friend, Dwane Niemann. Many trips were made to the drag strip in Kearney. John loved the smell of burning tires, racing gas and won many times in competition. His dream car would have been to own a 1962 Chevy with a 409 cubic inch motor. During the off-season from drag racing, John competed in the town basketball team in Lincoln. On his return back to Utica one fateful night, in the fall of 1967, he met the girl of his dreams, Rosemary “Rosie” Janak. John and Rosie fell in love quickly and were engaged on June 5, 1968, and were married Nov. 23, 1968, at St. Francis’ Parish in David City.
Shortly after the couple married, they began farming near Staplehurst, where they were also blessed with a son, Jarrod Phillip. After a couple of years, the family moved west of town. Because of John’s love for cattle and farming, the couple relocated to Stuart in March of 1981. In May of that same year, John and Rosie adopted a daughter, Alisha Rose. Stuart became their family’s forever home.
John and Rosie continued to farm and became involved in the different activities in the area. As time went on, John played town basketball, and eventually became more serious about drag racing. John also had a collection of IH tractors that he was proud of. John was always very determined in whatever activity he was involved in, and had a bright sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with his family, which included chasing the grandkids around the house. John was a self-taught and educated man, and a wonderful mentor to anyone that knew him and will be sorely missed.
John is survived by his wife, Rosemary (Janak) Hladky of Stuart; son, Jarrod Hladky of Stuart; grandchildren, Makala (Joe) Hebbert of Stuart, Brittany (Kordell) Sukup of Stuart, Logan McConnell of Neligh, Wyatt Schoenenberger of Neligh, and Ethan Schoenenberger; great-granddaughter, Payton Sukup; great-grandson Eli Sukup; sister, Janice (Hladky) Perkins of Broomfield, Colorado; brothers, Ray (Virginia) Hladky of Kansas City, Missouri, Ben Hladky of Mesquite, New Mexico; and sister-in-law, Joan Hladky of Seward, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emanuel and Josephine; daughter, Alisha Rose; grandson, Cameron Scott; sisters, Mary Lou Codr and Irene Chermok; and brother, Eugene Hladky.
Visitation will be from 4 – 8 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Stuart. A funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 9, at the church. Arrangements by Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson.
