Thomas Dean Votipka was born to Frank Votipka and Mollie (Kohler)
Votipka on October 1, 1922, at Exeter, Nebraska, and passed away on
December 13, 2009 at the Friend Manor in Friend, Nebraska, at the age of
87 years, 2 months and 13 days. He was one of three children in the
family.
Tom attended
Country School and graduated from Exeter High School in 1940. He entered
the Army during World War II and served in the Company D, 42nd Armored
Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division. Tom told his family amazing World
War II stories while with the 11th Armored Division. Tom attended Camp
Polk in Louisiana, Camp Barkley in Texas and Camp Cook in California
before landing in England on November 12, 1944. He was a Technical
Sergeant and the Lead Tank driver of his division. Tom participated in
the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Bastogne. He was in Linz,
Austria when the war ended, and he was honorably discharged on January
15, 1946.
Upon
returning to the United States, Tom spent his entire life pursuing his
farming and cattle ambition. He was hard working and dedicated to
farming and livestock, and his family.
Tom was
united in marriage to Lea Ann Morgan of Exeter, Nebraska, on November
10, 1947. They made their home near Exeter on the family farm where he
resided his entire life, and they raised three children: Marsha, Bob and
Ron.
Tom was
secretary on the Fillmore County Irrigation Board for several years. He
was also Secretary of the Upper Big Blue Association. Tom served on the
Exeter School Board the entire time his kids were in high school. He was
also a 4-H leader for the Handy Hands Club. Tom was active in the V.F.W.
and the American Legion, and a continuous member of the 11th Armored
Division Association.
Tom's main
hobbies consisted of hunting, dancing, going to cattle sales and
attending the 11th Armored Division reunions. Other hobbies were working
as a salesman for Dekalb, Standard Feed and Archer Oil, all at the same
time.
Tom was
preceded in death by his parents; his sister Rita; and his brother Rex.
He is
survived by his wife of 62 years, Lea Ann; his daughter Marsha Turbett
of Lincoln; his son Robert & wife Barb of Exeter; son Ron and wife
Michele of Roca; and seven grandchildren: Rebecca Streff, Richard
Votipka, Abby Pringle, Zach Votipka, Luke Votipka, Maria Votipka and Ted
Turbett; and three great grandchildren and one brother-in-law.
.jpg)
.jpg)