Milton J. Totusek, 89, of Silver Lake
Milton Totusek
Milton John Totusek, 89, of Silver Lake, died Friday, July 31, 2015, at Cedar Crest Estate in Silver Lake.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 14, at 3 p.m., at The Maresh Funeral Home in Silver Lake. The Rev. Paul Baker will officiate. A time of gathering will be held Friday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
Milton John Totusek was born May 3, 1926, in Hutchinson, the son of Frank and Anna (Zastera) Totusek. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed at the Congregational Church in Silver Lake. He received his elementary education at Komensky School and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1944. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until Feb. 14, 1946.
He bought his cousin Ed Konerza’s 40-acre farm in 1950.
On Aug. 19, 1951, he was united in marriage to Alice Carol Trutna at the Congregational Church. They would have celebrated 64 years of marriage. Milton and Alice Carol Totusek were blessed with a daughter, DeAnn (Robert) Fiecke, two grandchildren, Kristopher and Crystal, a great-granddaughter, Kira, and a great-grandson on the way.
Mr. Totusek was a farmer, rural mail carrier for 30 years, a founding and proud member of the McLeod County Sheriff’s Posse, part-time police officer in Silver Lake, and a part-time school bus driver. For years, he worked at the Silver Lake Hatchery. he had a great love for chickens and at one time had a flock of 4,500 laying hens.
He was the commander of the Silver Lake American Legion Post and also served as chaplain for a number of years. He also read deceased veterans’ names at the Memorial Day program as he had an easy time reading the old names.
Mr. Totusek had a great love of people and he knew so many and where they lived. You could ask about anyone and he knew. People always said they would have to pick his brain while he was alive because afterwards they could never find out about anyone.
He loved his daughter so much that they were like two peas in a pod. His grandchildren were special, as well as the two neighbor girls, Holly and Carrie (Peaches). Then the great-grandchild came along — also very special. He was always planning ahead. Buy one, you’d better buy two so you’d be ready for tomorrow. His mother taught him to work hard and save his money. He would take extra jobs so the family could get ahead. He always said his little farm was a good producer.
He liked to take moving pictures. He always said, “How come I’m not in the picture?” and would be told, “well, you are taking the pictures.” The family has lots of old pictures of Silver Lake.
He didn’t have hobbies; he was too busy fixing things, making the swing for Kristopher when he was little, teaching Crystal to ride a bike and he didn’t allow training wheels. He also fixed an apple press — a busy man.
His parents instilled a strong love of God in him. He read his Bible every morning and he had a prayer list of people that he prayed for every day — family or friends. Mr. Totusek was a wonderful, loving man and he will be greatly missed.
He lost his older brother, Frank, a few years ago. They did everything together, even a trip to California in a Model T. He had a special friend when he was younger, Vernon Uherka, and a special cousin, Roger Vorlicek, and his wife Ruth. There were many more friends and family who also thought he was special because he was older and he knew so much.
He will be greatly missed by all.
He leaves behind his wife, Alice Carol; daughter, DeAnn (Robert) Fiecke; grandchildren, Kristopher (Allison) Fiecke and Crystal Fiecke; great-granddaughter, Kira Fiecke; sister-in-law, Margaret Totusek; brother-in-law, Lyman Trutna, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Anna Totusek; brother, Frank Totusek; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Floyd and Nancy Ondracek; and sister-in-law, Mary Jane Trutna.
The Maresh Funeral Home in Silver Lake is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.maresh
funeralhome.com.
