John (Jack) Benedict Tesina of Bee, Nebraska was born on June 28, 1933, in David City, Nebraska to the late John and Louise (Hoffbauer) Tesina and passed away on August 20, 2021, in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 1 month and 23 days. Jack was raised on a farm west of Dwight, Nebraska. He attended Assumption Catholic School in Dwight through the 10th grade. He decided that he didn’t care much for school and dropped out and decided to help his dad work on the farm. At this time, they used a team of horses as his dad was late to adapt to the new technology of farming with tractors.
He was drafted into the service and joined the Navy in 1955. He was assigned to the carrier “USS Princeton” CVS 37. His service duty was in the waters of the far East. Shortly after his discharge in 1957, he met the love of his life, Genevieve (Genny) Vavra. His dream came true when he married his best friend on September 5, 1959. He and Genny were married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses, Nebraska. After their marriage they moved to a farm north of Bee, joining the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Bee. They were blessed with three children, Lori, John and Veronica.
Soon after his marriage he went back to school and received his GED. Having a creative mind and a natural knack for fixing things, he went on to get his electrical and plumbing licenses and was an expert welder. He loved being a farmer and cattle rancher. With all of his skills and talents, he was very creative in making parts for his machines. If he couldn’t find what he had in mind, he would create and build it. Along with farming and tending to the cattle and hog operation, Jack and his long-time friend, Bill, started BILLY JACK, an electric, plumbing and heating business.
He worked as a mechanic for MetroMail in Seward and then as the Maintenance guy for the town of Ulysses. His son, John, joined him with the farm and ranching operation. The operation continues today along with the many personal touches he left behind.
Although Jack was very busy with his farm and livestock operation, he always made time for volunteer service. Jack was a 4-H leader for the Plum Creek Tractor Club for several years, he was a member of the Seward County Zoning board for five years. He was a member of the St. Wenceslaus men’s club calling BINGO on Tuesday nights and running chuck –o- luck at the church dinners. Jack was on the St. Wenceslaus cemetery board for many years. He loved his church and for years was the go-to guy for all electrical, plumbing and general repair for the church and parish hall. He spent many hours working with the masonry on the grotto located near the front entrance of the church. He was a member of the church choir for several decades. He was also involved with helping build the new church in the early 60’s. Jack was a member of the Bee Volunteer Fire Department, the American Legion Post #110 and belonged to the Knights of Columbus Council 738 in Valparaiso.
Jack was full of fun, he didn’t know a stranger, He never said a negative word about any person or thing. He always had a joke to share and would enter the group with “Have no Fear, Jack is Here”. He and Genny did everything together. They would often take a Sunday afternoon ride to neighboring towns on his Honda 90 or drive around looking at the crops sitting side by side in the truck. He enjoyed his horses and would travel with his friends to ride their horses in community parades. He loved polka music, he loved dancing to polkas and singing polkas. He and Genny would often go to polka dances and be the first couple out on the dance floor. By the end of the night, he would be on stage singing the polka songs with the band.
Jack loved his family and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was especially proud to teach and pass on his farm and electrical skills to his only grandson, Kyle.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Christine and Antone Vavra; brother, David; son-in-law, Paul Witzel; sister-in-law, Sally Allgaier and nephews, Kevin Bohaty and Chris Allgaier.
Survivors cherishing his memory include his wife of nearly 62 years, Genny Tesina; three children, Lori Witzel (and friend, Larry Hill), Cabool, Missouri, John Tesina, Bee, Nebraska and Veronica Gabel, (and friend, Gary Kudlacek), Bee, Nebraska; five grandchildren, Courtney (Steve) Ruscetti, Nikki (Allen) Short, Kyle Gabel (and special friend, Meagan Manning), Elizabeth (Andrew) Koepp, and Jaime Gabel and fiancé, Jason Orr; great-grandchildren, Hailee Ruscetti, Hudson Short, Ashton Polston, Kaden Shepherd, Brenna and Karina Koepp; brothers and sisters-in-law; Eleanor and Richard Bohaty, Ron and Pat Vavra and Bob Allgaier and a host of other family and friends.
