Joseph Alvin “Joe” Vnoucek was born to Joseph R. Vnoucek and Ella (Eret) Vnoucek on Aug. 29, 1935, in Friend. He was one of six children. He departed this life June 4, 2026, at Fairview Manor, Fairmont, at the age of 90.
Joe grew up on the family farm northeast of Milligan, where he continued his Czech heritage and nurtured his love of music, especially the Milligan Czech Brass Band. He attended Sunflower School Dist. 100 through the seventh grade, Walnut Grove Dist. 100 for the eighth grade and graduated from Milligan High School in 1953.
Joe was baptized in the Congregational Church and was united in marriage to Anna Engle of Geneva on June 26, 1956, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Geneva. Joe later joined the United Methodist Church in Milligan, where he was a member until passing.
In 1958, Joe was drafted into the United States Army. During Joe's time in the service, he and Anna made their home in Fort Hood, Texas, and Uttenreuth, Germany. Anna and Joe returned to the family farm in 1960, where they were blessed with and raised three daughters, his pride and joy. After several years of farming and raising cattle, Joe took a job in town working for Geneva Tube. He later went to work for the Saline County Roads department out of Friendm, retiring in 2005.
Joe was involved in activities throughout Saline County and the surrounding communities. He was a member of ZCBJ-WFLA Lodge, Saline Center, served as president of Walnut Grove Dist. 100 school board and served on the United Methodist Church Board, just to name a few.
Joe loved spending time with family and friends, always having pivo at the ready. No one was a stranger, with his infectious smile, he made friends everywhere he went. He always loved a good conversation, made even better when he found someone else who could speak Czech. He loved to garden, even completing his Master Gardener certification in his retirement years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Anna, of 55 years; brothers and sisters-in-law, Loren Vnoucek, Arnold (Evelyn) Vnoucek; sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy (Leslie) Skrivanek, Arlene (Leonard) Kassik and Betty (Raymond) Soukup; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law George (Phyllis) Engle, Frank Engle, Eleanor (Arlan) Becker, Harold (Helen) Engle, Ruth (Delbert) Sorge, Willis (Beth) Engle, and Ronald Uldrich.
Joe is survived by his daughters, Lezley (Shawn) Dellinger, Lora (Jeff) Andrews, and Lisa Vnoucek (Troy Miller); grandchildren, Emilia, Molly and Noah Dellinger, Daniel (Brandi), Nicholas, and Aaron Andrews, Karly Trujillo (Kaden and Kamden), Morgan Riley; sister-in-law; Mary Uldrich and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Joe will be Friday, June 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Saline Center Hall, Western, with Lay Pastor Michelle Lessard and Kim Dunker officiating. A graveside service with Military Honors will be at North Fork Cemetery, Western. Public visitation will be Thursday, June 19, from 1 – 8 p.m. with family present from 6 – 8 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home – Kotas Chapel, Milligan. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Milligan United Methodist Church, Milligan or Friend rescue squads and the Fairview Manor Lighted Cross Fund.
Arrangements by Farmer & Son Funeral Home.
