Lorene V. Sluka

Lorene V. Sluka was born to Ed and Mollie (Placek) Buzek on March 3, 1931 on a farm Northwest of Milligan, Nebraska. She passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on December 1, 2025 at Fairview Manor in Fairmont, Nebraska. Lorene attended Rural School District No. 33 and Milligan Public School, graduating with the class of 1948. She was a rural school teacher for several years and later worked for the Elgin Watch Factory in Lincoln, Nebraska. On April 23, 1954, Lorene married Donald Sluka and moved to the Sluka family farm NW of Milligan remaining there their entire married life. Their daughter, Linda Sue was born in 1960. The family kept busy with school and 4-H activities. Don & Lorene enjoyed polka dances and attending Czech festivals. Lorene was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Town & Country Club and Fillmore County Genealogical Society. She enjoyed farm life, raising chickens and ducks, planting and raising a garden and caring for her flowers and farm yard. She would also help Don with cattle chores, sorting and handling cattle and any other farm work that needed to be done. Lorene’s many hobbies were refinishing furniture, collecting old picture postcards, compiling ancestor history books and sewing which included helping granddaughter, Shandra, sew Czech dresses. The grandchildren, Brian and Shandra, were a joy to have around. In 1994 they moved a half mile west of Don and Lorene’s farm and made a trail through the field coming on bicycle or an old pickup honking as they came. Brian helped grandpa with cattle chores and Shandra came in the house to help grandma stir dough for rolls and Vdolky. She was also blessed with two great grandchildren, Layne and Laycee from Brian and Nicole. She enjoyed having them over every minute that she could. They would bake and decorate cookies often, or build playhouses that were painted and decorated. She also gained step grandchildren Nick, Alex, and Grace from Shandra who she enjoyed as well along with their children in following years. Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother, Wesley Buzek, and brother in law and sister in law Jim and Annabelle Sluka. She is survived by her daughter, Linda and Rick Korbelik; grandchildren, Brian and Nicole Zelenka, Shandra Korbelik, great grandchildren Layne and Laycee Zelenka, Nick Reinsch, Alex and Wes Rippe (Piper and Atlas) and Grace Reinsch. A Memorial Service for Lorene was held on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home – Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska. Kim Dunker presided over the Memorial Service. The recorded selections “Beyond The Sunset,” “Peace In The Valley,” and “Waltz Across Texas” were played during the Memorial Service. Honorary Pallbearers included Brian Zelenka, Shandra Korbelik, Nicole Zelenka, Chris Sluka, Tom Sluka, James Sluka, Rick Stoldorf, Jay Steinacher, and Wayne Havlat. A Graveside Committal of Ashes was held in the Bohemian National Cemetery following the Memorial Service. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in care of the arrangements and online condolences can be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com. Memorials are suggested to the Milligan Library or the Milligan Legion Auxiliary.

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Lorene V. Sluka

March 3, 1931 - December 1, 2025