Our Family History
The Genealogy of the Ruzicka and Manchak Families
Joseph Albert KRIPAL
1935 - 2023 (88 years)-
Name Joseph Albert KRIPAL [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] Birth 10 Jun 1935 Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA 
[2, 7, 9] Gender Male Also Known As Joe KRIPAL [10] Census 2 May 1940 Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA [4] 
1940 Federal Census of Nebraska, Thayer County, Hebron
Supervisor's District No. 8, Enumeration District No. 85-20, Sheet No. 66ACensus 3 Apr 1950 Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA [5] 
1950 Federal Census of Nebraska, Thayer County, Hebron
Enumeration District No. 85-22, Sheet No. 71Death 17 Oct 2023 [9, 11] Burial 21 Oct 2023 Sacred Heart Cemetery/Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA Person ID I1061 Family Tree Last Modified 3 Nov 2026
Father John Louis KRIPAL, b. 11 Jul 1893, Sviny, Bohemia d. 24 Apr 1969, Columbus, Platte, Nebraska, USA (Age 75 years) Relationship natural Mother Sophia Bertha RUZICKA, b. 21 Sep 1895, Yukon, Canadian, Oklahoma Territory, USA d. 9 Jul 1968, St. Joseph's Hospital/Concordia, Cloud, Kansas, USA (Age 72 years) Relationship natural Marriage 12 Oct 1920 Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA [2, 12, 13] 
KRIPAL, John and Sophia's Wedding Document
Monument to the Conjugal Marriage
Mr. John Kripal and Ms. Sophie Ruzicka by
Ceremony St. Catholic Church with Councilors were Married
Temple of Lord St. Vaclav in Omaha, Nebraska
on 12 October 1920
KRIPAL, John L.
NACKE, William
KRIPAL, Irene
Nebraska, U.S., Index to Marriages, 1909-1955Notes - [Kripal.ged]
St. Wenceslaus Church, 1430 South 14th Street
Photos 
KRIPAL, Sophie
KRIPAL, JohnFamily ID F287 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Anna Ruth SULLIVAN Children > 1. David Alan KRIPAL 2. Richard Eugene KRIPAL, b. 1 Oct 1960, Fremont, Dodge, Nebraska, USA d. 1 Oct 1960, Fremont, Dodge, Nebraska, USA (Age 0 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]+ 3. Joan Marie KRIPAL + 4. Thomas Joseph KRIPAL > 5. Steven John KRIPAL Family ID F404 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 3 Nov 2026
- [Kripal.ged]
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Event Map 
Birth - 10 Jun 1935 - Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA 
Census - 2 May 1940 - Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA Census - 3 Apr 1950 - Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA 
Burial - 21 Oct 2023 - Sacred Heart Cemetery/Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
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Photos 
WIEDEL, Michelle
KRIPAL, Joe
Dave's comments... "My niece, Michelle Wiedel, was the Nebraska State Czech-Slovak Queen for 2006, and last summer competed in the national competition held in Wilber Nebraska, and won. So we now have a Ruzicka descendent as the 'Miss Czech Slovak USA'."
WIEDEL, Michelle
KRIPAL, JoeKRIPAL, Joseph Albert
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Sources - [S51] KRIPAL, Dave, Email of 04 Nov 1999.
Joseph Albert (1935-) - [S78] Kripal.ged.
Date of Import: 18 Jun 2003 - [S573] Obituary of Adeline Rose MEYER, (Name: Nelson Gazette; Location: Nelson, Nuckolls, Nebraska, USA; Date: 8 Jan 2004;), Page 9.
Adeline Rose Kripal was born in Hebron, NE on August 9, 1927 to John and Sophia Kripal.
She attended Sacred Heart Catholic grade school and Hebron Public School.
Addie married Denny K. Meyer on September 3, 1949 in Hebron, NE. They moved to a farm south of Superior raising six sons. Addie was very proud of her family and loved to talk about what they are doing and tell stories about them growing up. Her family was her pride and joy. She took every opportunity to spend time with her ten grandchildren. Holidays was always a very special time with tons of food, lots of gifts, fun and laughter.
Besides her family, which was her greatest treasure, she enjoyed collecting and restoring antique dolls as well as making new dolls. She soon became well known
for her incredible talent. Addie could look at a picture and design a replica of any costume. She could take a broken doll and completely restore it to original condition. Her husband Denny was very instrumental in patching and sanding. Addie put on the finishing touches with her expert painting skills.
In 1988 her family encouraged her to open a business in downtown Superior. Her shop, Doll Fashions was a treat for anyone who entered. The store was filled with her creations, many with a Victorian flair. She constantly created new ideas making not only dolls but many other unique items for her gift shop including wreaths and ornaments. Addie dressed and restored dolls for customers
all over the United States. She often donated dolls to raise money for community organizations. Her generosity and willingness to give of herself was unmatched.
Addie left this life on January 3, 2004 at Brodstone Memorial Hospital in Superior, NE.
She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Sophia Kripal, an infant son, brother Hank Kripal and sister Cecilia Worden. She leaves behind her husband Denny, sons Dan and wife Cece of Grand Island, Randy and wife Kelly,
Greg and wife Kim, and Kent all of Omaha, Rick and wife Criss of Houston, TX, and Andy and wife Peggy of Superior, grandchildren Nate, Kirk, Chris, Matt, Alicia, John, Joes, Alex, Leah and Kalynn; brothers Joe Kripal and John Kripal
of Hebron, sisters Irene Nacke of Hebron, Pat Fiser of Littleton, CO, and many relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 7, 2004, from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Superior with Father Philip Luther officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Superior. - [S1152] 1940 U.S. Census, Nebraska, Thayer, Hebron, Sixteenth Census of the United States Schedule; Online Images, Supervisor's District No. 8, Enumeration District No. 85-20, Sheet No. 66A.
Lines 1 thru 3 - [S1153] 1950 U.S. Census, Nebraska, Thayer, Hebron, Seventeenth Census of the United States Schedule; Online Images, Enumeration District No. 85-22, Sheet No. 71.
Lines 19 thru 25 - [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004.
Name: Richard Eugene Kripal
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 1 Oct 1960
Birth Place: Dodge, Nebraska, USA
Parent 1 Name: Joseph A Kripal
Certificate Number: 25955
Birth Certificate Type: Normal - [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004.
Name: Joseph A Kripal
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 10 Jun 1935
Birth Place: Thayer, Nebraska, USA
Parent 1 Name: John L Kripal
Certificate Number: 67446
Birth Certificate Type: Delayed - [S940] U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current.
Name: Joseph Albert Kripal
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Birth Date: abt 1935
Residence Place: Hebron
Marriage License Date: 8 Sep
Marriage Date: Abt 1958
Spouse: Anna Ruth Sullivan - [S1214] Obituary of Joseph Albert KRIPAL, (Name: Kroll Funeral Home; Location: Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA; Date: Abt. 19 Oct 2023;).
Joseph Albert Kripal
October 17, 2023 (age 88)
Joseph Albert Kripal, son of John Louis and Sophia Bertha (Ruzicka) Kripal was born June 10, 1935 in Hebron NE. He departed this life Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron at the age of 88 years.
Joe grew up in Hebron, attended Sacred Heart Catholic grade school, and graduated from Hebron High School with the class of 1953.
He worked for his father at the Kripal Motor Company in Hebron during and after high school until he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1955. He served as an aircraft mechanic, including time on the aircraft carrier USS Princeton in the Pacific, and was honorably discharged in 1959.
Joe married Anna Ruth Sullivan at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Superior, NE September 15, 1958. This union was blessed with the birth of five children.
Joe worked in the Engineering department at Behlen Manufacturing in Columbus NE, and then owned two different automotive service stations in Columbus before moving the family back to Hebron in 1974. He then began his career at Reinke Manufacturing, working there for 26 years before retiring as Vice President of Purchasing.
As a younger man Joe enjoyed pheasant and quail hunting, and throughout his life was always interested in all things mechanical. He restored a red 1969 Chevrolet Impala convertible which he enjoyed driving for many years, taking it to car shows, parades, or just giving rides to his grandchildren. In recent years he relived his youth owning and driving a 1948 Plymouth which was like one he had in high school.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hebron, Lions Club, and the American Legion.
He is preceded in death by an infant son Richard Eugene; parents John and Sophia Kripal; siblings Henry Kripal, Cecilia Worden and Adeline Meyer.
He is survived by his wife Ruth of Hebron, children David (Joni) Kripal of Erie, CO, Joan Wiedel of Fremont, NE, Thomas (Sarah) Kripal Lincoln, NE, and Steven (Kendra) Kripal of Omaha, NE; grandchildren Eric (Shelly) Wiedel, Jessica (Bryce) Knobbe, Michelle (Jonathan) Meyer, and Joel Wiedel, Sophia and Kailey Kripal, Ellie, Madison, and Jillian Kripal; 10 great-grandchildren; siblings Irene Nacke of Hebron, Patricia (Don) Fiser of Littleton, CO, John (Idonna) Kripal of Hebron, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Organist will be Janet Nielsen, congregational hymns will be “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, and “On Eagles Wings”, acolyte will be Ken Else, reader John Luongo, casket bearers will be Joe’s nephews Randy, Greg, Kent, and Andy Meyer, Jeff Kripal, Jim Nacke, and Tim Fiser.
Memorials in care of the family and condolences may be left at www.krollfh.com. Interment will be in the Catholic cemetery with military honors by the Thayer County American Legion Posts. Kroll Funeral Home of Hebron, NE is in charge of arrangements. - [S1591] Obituary of Irene L. (KRIPAL) NACKE, (Name: Kroll-Massey Funeral Home; Location: Hebron, Thayer, Nebraska, USA; Date: Abt. 1 Sep 2026;).
Irene L. (Kripal) Nacke
Hebron, Nebraska
June 2, 1933 - August 29, 2026
Irene Nacke, 93, died peacefully in her sleep on August 29, 2026, leaving behind a life filled with love, faith, laughter, and enough grandchildren and great-grandchildren to rival her beloved Cornhuskers football team.
Born to John and Sophie Kripal on June 2, 1933, in Hebron, Nebraska, Irene was the fourth of seven children. She was a drum majorette and cheerleader in high school, where she fell in love with a handsome basketball star named William J. “Bill” Nacke. She worked as a soda jerk at the soda fountain, where she served Bill rootbeer floats and chocolate malts, perfecting the recipes that would later become a staple of countless movie nights at Grandma and Grandpa’s.
Bill and Irene graduated in 1951 and married on November 14, 1953.
The couple welcomed four children into the world: Barb, Jon, Jim, and Michelle. Bill enlisted in the Army as a company clerk, and when Barb was just five days old, he deployed on a peacekeeping mission to Germany. Irene worked nights at the telephone office, where she’d secretly connect with Bill overseas. She once told us never to tell anyone she did that because the three old maids who worked there would be mad. We’re pretty confident they’re dead at this point, and if they aren’t, well, they can’t be mad at her now!
Bill returned to the States on Christmas Eve 1955. After moves to Hays, Kansas; Russell, Kansas; and Sioux City, Iowa, the family settled in Yankton, South Dakota, where Bill opened Bill Nacke Jewelers. Irene became the store’s bookkeeper, where she worked alongside her love as they built both a business and a life together, and laughed for hours over selling “canardly diamonds.”
After selling the jewelry store, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Irene worked in the rectory at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ. Her job title may have been secretary, but the generations of young priests who spent time at the Cathedral knew her as much more. She looked after them, worried about them, fed them, and, knowing Irene, mothered every single one of them.
Following Bill’s death in 2001, Irene returned to Hebron to be close to her brothers and sisters. There, she remained devoted to her faith and was an active member of St. Anne’s Altar Society at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, John and Sophie Kripal; soulmate, Bill; son, Jon; brothers, Hank and Joe; and sisters, Addie and Cece.
She is survived by her children, Barb (Terry) Truesdell; Jim (Katie) Nacke; Michelle (Dan) Schupp; daughter-in-law Becky Nacke; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Pat Fiser; brother, John (Idonna) Kripal; sister-in-law, Ruth Kripal; brothers-in-law Ralph McLaughlin and Jerry (Kendra) Nacke; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Irene loved a good game of bridge, Nebraska football and volleyball, and cheering on the Kansas City Royals, especially when she could watch the games with her brother Joe and sister-in-law Ruth. She was rarely seen without her hair done, lipstick on, and a Rosary in her hand. She will be remembered for her oatmeal raisin cookies, peach dumplings, Ranch dressing, reubens, homemade baby blankets, kolaches, red beer, General Joe’s chicken, Santa Mouse, houska, candied yams, spray perfume, and so much more, but above all, her love of her faith, her devotion to the Blessed Mother, and her family.
With Irene’s kind heart, gentle smile, and ever-present twinkle in her eye, one might never have guessed that she’d survived a tornado, a house fire, and the grief that comes with losing a spouse, a child, siblings and friends, but her faith in a Heavenly reunion with all of those who went before her kept her kicking, even though, as she’d tell you, “maybe just not as high.”
Irene’s life began as one of seven children in a small Nebraska town and grew into a family that stretches across the country and spans generations. We have no doubt that Bill and Irene are together again, hand in hand, looking down on their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, saying her favorite line: “Bill, look at what we started.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Anne’s Altar Society.
Mrs. Nacke will lie in state from 10 AM to 10:30 AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hebron on Friday Sept 4. Funeral Service for Mrs. Nacke will be Friday at 11 AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hebron. Recitation of rosary will be at 10:30 AM at the church. Kroll-Massey Funeral Home in Hebron in charge of arrangements. - [S51] KRIPAL, Dave, Email of 19 Oct 2023.
My father passed away Tuesday morning. - [S600] Wedding Certificate of John KRIPAL and Sophie RUZICKA.
Monument to the Conjugal Marriage
Mr. John Kripal and Ms. Sophie Ruzicka by
Ceremony St. Catholic Church with Councilors were Married
Temple of Lord St. Vaclav in Omaha, Nebraska
on 12 October 1920 - [S938] Nebraska, U.S., Index to Marriages, 1909-2022.
Name: John L Kripal
Marriage Date: 1920
Marriage Place: Douglas, Nebraska, USA
Certificate Number: 6660
- [S51] KRIPAL, Dave, Email of 04 Nov 1999.