Lillian L. Skolnik of Seward was born near Brainard to Charles and Rose (Kominek) Dolezal on April 26, 1927.
She attended country schools in Butler County and graduated from Dwight High School in 1944. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and at the age of 17, she began teaching at a Butler County country school. She married Joseph A. Skolnik of Staplehurst on May 8, 1947, at Holy Trinity Church in Brainard. Two daughters, Barbara and Karen, were born to this union. Lillian served on the Election Board in Seward County’s B and G precincts for many years, was active in the Nebraska Democratic Party, PCCW, ZCBJ and volunteered at the Seward Senior Center. She helped her husband with various ventures through the years, Skolnik Equipment, farming and carpentry. She loved gardening, baking, cooking, playing cards and most of all, dancing with her husband to polka music. Lillian was an excellent seamstress, making most of her clothes, and loved to make quilts, having made more than 30 quilts for family.
Lillian passed away Nov. 23, 2020, at her home in Seward at the age of 93 years, 6 months and 28 days. Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph (2005); her parents, Charles and Rose Dolezal; and brother, Ernest, a 1951 Korean War casualty. Lillian is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Barbara and Ray Leising of Lincoln and Karen and Allen Hoffbauer of Seward; five grandchildren and their spouses, Brian and Amy Leising, Christina (Leising) and Jason Howe, Amy (Hoffbauer) and Jonathan Metschke, Jason and Heidi Hoffbauer and April Hoffbauer; 10 great-grandchildren, Elyssa and Brayden Leising, Bradley, Chase and Dylan Howe, JJ, Julya, Ayda and Adalya Metschke and Holly Hoffbauer. She is also survived by her beloved dog and constant companion, Fraggle; and a brother and sister-in-law, Don and Margaret Dolezal of Brainard.
Funeral Mass was Nov. 28 at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church with interment at the Seward Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Skolnik family or the donor's choice. Condolences may be left for the family at www.volzkefuneralhome.com.
