Harold J. Valasek, of Ord, passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at the Valley County Health System Hospital, at the age of 92 years and 1 day.
A private family service will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021. Pastor Spenser Johnson will officiate. Interment will be in the Ord City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
For the health and safety of others social distancing and face masks are required for those attending the funeral.
Harold J. Valasek was born at home on February 17, 1929, to William (Bill) and Cecil Valasek in the Springdale area east of Ord, Nebraska. He lived in this area where he attended the Springdale Country School and helped at home with farming until 1943, when his folks moved to Davis Creek south of Ord. He continued to work on the family farm and attended the Davis Creek country school through the tenth grade and finished his last two years of school at Ord High School graduating with the class of 1947. After graduation he stayed on the farm to help his father with the farming operation due to his father’s health problems.
On September 30, 1951, Harold married Alma Mrsny. They lived in Ord until December of that year when Harold was drafted into the army. He took his basic training in El Paso, Texas and then was shipped to Korea to the Anti-Aircraft Artillery. He was discharged as a corporal at Fort Carson, Colorado in November of 1953, and returned back to Ord.
In 1954, Harold and his wife moved to Elm Creek, Nebraska where Harold worked for a John Deere Dealer for a year and then moved to Kearney, Nebraska where he worked repairing Maytag washers. In May of 1956, Harold and his wife moved to Denver, Colorado to seek work. Harold started working for Maytag in Denver doing service work for them for nine years.
Harold then was employed by the Thornton Colorado Fire Department for 18 ½ years. Harold had been promoted to a Captain while working at the fire department, but later retired due to a back injury he received when he fell through a ceiling while on duty.
Harold also drove a shuttle bus for Holiday Inn to and from the airport as well as he and his wife worked as volunteers for the Adams County Santa Claus Shop repairing toys and bicycles to be given away at Christmas to needy families. Harold and his wife became very active in two Wood Carving Clubs and enjoyed attending many carving shows displaying their carvings. Harold also loved his wood turning hobby in his shop.
After living in their home in Thornton, Colorado for 57 years, in July of 2013, Harold and his wife moved to Grandview Assisted Living in Ord to be near family as they did not have any children of their own.
Harold is survived by his wife, Alma of Ord; a brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Mary Valasek of Grand Island; a sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Marv Witherwax of Ord; and many nieces, nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Gerald “Bud” and Elnora Valasek; a niece; and a nephew.
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