Marie Anna Krajicek Korte, 100, of Wilber, Nebraska (formerly of Clarkson, Nebraska) died Sunday, February 16, 2014, at the Wilber Care Center in Wilber.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 19 at 11:00 AM at SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Clarkson with Fr. Rod Kneifl and Fr. Owen Korte as Con-Celebrants. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a 6:00 PM Vigil Service at the church. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until service time at the church.

Marie Anna Krajicek Korte was born on Nov. 29, 1913 to Frank J. Krajicek and Mary Barta Krajicek on the farm south of Howells, Nebraska. She joined three other sisters: Leona, Helen and Marcella. The Girls were joined later by the fifth child, their only brother, Frank. These five children were the fourth generation of Krajiceks to live in this country with her grandfather and great-grandfather having emigrated from Bohemia. The Krajicek Family were founding members of St. Mary's Parish commonly known as Tabor, just south of Howells. In fact the church bell in the Tabor Church was given by her grandfather in memory of her great-grandfather when he died in 1908. Shortly after Marie was born her paternal grandmother, Anna Vlasak Krajicek came to see the new baby. She announced that the baby should be called Mayme. Marie's mother was afraid of Grandma Krajicek and so, although she was baptized Marie Anna she became known as Mayme. And that is how most of the folks in Howells and Clarkson knew her. It was when Marie started actually earning a paycheck for work she did at the Blue Bird Nursery and she needed to find out her Social Security number that her real name came clearly to light. The folks who knew her in Norfolk and at the Wilber Care Center called her Marie.

Marie went to school in the little one room school house down the road from the farm. She graduated from 8th grade and an old notebook saved from 8th grade showed that she had wonderful handwriting. It also showed that she was learning bookkeeping in 8th grade. She was baptized at St. Mary's Church in Tabor. The front doors of that old church back in 1913 faced the west and had a commanding view of the Maple Creek Valley where the Krajicek Farm was located. The land remains in the Krajicek Family owned now by Marie's two nieces: Bonnie Nations and Cheryl Berg.

After 8th grade Marie started working but remained at home on the farm helping with chores, babysitting her younger brother and doing all the things kids did on the farm. She learned to cook wonderful Czech meals from her mother, she learned to bake pies and can meat, fruit and vegetables. When she turned 100 she said that one thing she was most proud of were her Kolaches. Everyone looked forward to the big holidays when she would roast her ducks, make the dumplings and sauerkraut and the traditional "Kaldone"-a liver dumpling and giblet gravy we poured over everything. She helped take care of house for ladies in the family who were having babies. Going to dances and meeting up with friends and starting to date were all part of the life of a young lady in the later part of the 1920's. Marie told about going with one young man for three years in the early 1930's but since he wouldn't turn Catholic and she wouldn't turn Protestant; that was the end of that.

Marie (Mayme) Krajicek met up with a young Catholic German man from the Howells area and they got married at the Heun Church on Oct. 27, 1934. William J. Korte, the son of John and Katherine Knobbe Korte, was born Feb. 11, 1912 in Orleans, NE. Later the family moved to the Petersburg-Raeville area and eventually to the Howells area. A German and a Czech getting married in those days was not looked upon with great delight by the older generation. But eventually both families gave their blessing.

Bill and Mayme worked hard in those dry years and into the 40's until they made enough money to put a down payment on a farm north of Clarkson in 1949. Before that, they worked for numerous farms in the Howells, Pilger and Clarkson vicinity. Usually they worked in a kind of share-cropping arrangement receiving sometimes from the owner a house to live in, one hog and a half a beef for food and probably some of the profit from the farm. One time they worked on a Turkey Farm and lost the entire flock to a blizzard. Friendships with neighbors and relatives were fostered at Polka Dances, playing canasta, butchering together, putting up hey, bailing and combining. In was in those days that their first two children were born. Marilyn Jindra was born in 1937 and Dean was born in 1939. It wasn't until they had their own farm, 160 acres one mile east and four north of Clarkson that their "second family" was born. Orrin was born in 1951 and Owen followed on the same day three years later. Sadness came to Bill and Mayme and the family when Orrin died from a fierce cancer of the kidney that claimed him in December of 1955. Mayme helped earn extra money for the family by baking Kolaches for the Café in Clarkson and eventually she worked for Blue Bird Nursery in its early days. In 1969 Bill and Mayme sold the farm and moved to Norfolk. Mayme, now known by her correct name of Marie, got a job working in the Kitchen for the Benedictine Sisters at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Norfolk. She would be the first one to work in the morning because she did the baking and naturally Kolaches were part of the task. Later Marie worked for the Lutheran Hospital in the housekeeping department. While she lived in Norfolk she joined the Catholic Daughters in 1973 and she proudly wore her 35 year pin.

Bill died in 1978 and Marie continued to live in Norfolk. She dated two fine men, first Joe Frauendorfer and then Ray Scholl. She helped care for both of when they became elderly and ill. She attended both of their funerals. In 2001 she moved back to Clarkson to be closer to her daughter, Marilyn, living in a house in town. In 2009 she moved to the Wilber Care Center to be closer to her son, Dean. Certainly a sad moment for mom was the death of her daughter, Marilyn on July 28, 2013, the same day as the birthday of both Orrin and Owen. The Family celebrated her 100th Birthday on Nov. 16, 2013 with an open house and mass. She was tickled to have received over 130 cards and letters. Keeping track of the number of cards is an insight into her personality—everything in its place. During her last years she had the wonderful added care provided by Asera Care Hospice alongside the care she received at the Wilber Care Center. Fr. Doty of Wilber came frequently to see mom and bring her the sacraments. Mom was the last of her generation. All of Bill's brothers, sisters and their spouses as well as all of Marie's brother, sisters and spouses died before Marie.

She is survived by two children: Dean Korte of Wilber and Fr. Owen Korte of Ralston, NE. In addition she is survived by four grandsons and five granddaughters. They in turn have brought into the world 13 great grandsons and 9 great granddaughters and one step-great grandson as well as 2 great great grandchildren and 3 step great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and three sisters, her husband Bill and a Son, Orrin as well as her daughter-in-law, Darlene Cech Korte, her son-in-law Alden Jindra, daughter, Marilyn Jindra and two great grandchildren.

Marie was able to maintain relatively good health all her years and mentally she was sharp all those years as well. She had a feisty even fiery personality. She was not perfect which puts her in good company with the rest of her family and friends. Maybe a little hard of hearing she could still carry on a conversation talking about memories from years ago or commenting on the food she had for lunch that day. Only two weeks ago Marie was asked about how she made some of her meals—she still remembered. Marie loved visits from her family and looked forward to the regular visits of her children.

Marie had a simple faith in God that was couched in terms of her Catholic Faith. Getting to mass, visiting with her pastor, saying her prayers—all this prepared her for her final departure in death. She was ready.