After circling his wagon with family and friends, Kenneth Eugene Smisek, is now riding shotgun on God's next great trail-blazing adventure.  Born August 13 ^th , 1946 in Beatrice, Nebraska to Mary (Pekarek) Smisek and William Smisek.  He married his high school sweetheart, Irene Wittler, July 13, 1968 and they created a life together of love, hospitality and generosity.  Ken was always up early to greet the day and make the latest discovery whether in country school district #97, Wilber High, or as an Ag-Econ and Livestock Husbandry graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and beyond as a life long learner and avid reader on any and every subject that crossed his path.

Drafted into the Army for Vietnam and serving in Fort Hood, Texas, Ken's patriotic pride and love of God grew to include the Wilber Masonic Lodge #64, Blue Valley Lodge, York Rite of Freemasonry, Sesostris Shrine, Tri-scats, Wilber American Legion Post 101, Lions Club, Eastern Star, Library Boards, Czech Village Board, Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, First Evangelical Lutheran Church,…in which he grew his circle of friends and gave to his communities as he moved from Nebraska to Harlan and Mitchellville, Iowa to St. Louis and back to Wilber, Nebraska.  He loved serving as both officer and volunteer in these organizations and appreciated the awards, accolades and atta-boys.

During his 36-year career in the Ag Finance Investment and Loan Management Industry, working for Equitable Life & Rabo Agribusiness, love of the land was evident not only through his work but through his countless family vacations, fishing trips, canoe portages, gold-mining hunts, and crop walks.

Adventure, laughter, discovery, and food were always in exuberant over-abundance when traveling with Ken.  While throughout his nearly 15-year retirement he traveled both near and far forever drawing everyone closer in celebrating life through polka tunes and porch swinging.  A man of a million hobbies, Ken encompassed everything from bee keeping to woodworking to the latest tech gadget.  His greatest love was his family and greatest pride, his kids and grandkids.  While kicking back with feet up in his recliner and do-it-yourself YouTube videos on the big screen TV, Ken loved life and passed the torch on to each of us to carry on his many passions.  What cannot be expressed here through words will be shared in stories and tears during visitation Friday, April 1, 5-7 pm at Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber followed by a Masonic Ceremony and funeral Saturday, April 2 at 2:00 pm at Wilber First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to the Ken Smisek Memorial Fund and sent to PO Box 96, Wilber, Nebraska 68465. Funds will be dispersed between the Wilber Fire Department, The First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wilber, and the Shriners Children's Hospital.

Those previously called to scout out heaven's journey include Ken's parents, Mary and William Smisek, sister, Darlene Reynolds, in-laws, Janis and Virgil Wittler, brother-in-laws, Frank Maneth and Jerry Wittler and countless more family &friends.

Those who have survived these adventures and who will be heading up the next ones are wife of 53 years, Irene (Wittler) Smisek, of Wilber, daughters, Andrea (Brent) Gage of Iowa City, Iowa, Ann Smisek of Cumming, Iowa, and Amy (Tom) Gerend of Kansas City, Missouri, grandchildren, Carter, Luke, and Kenna Gage, Nina Strong, and Mary, Lillian, and Gretchen Gerend, sister, LaVern Maneth of Sioux Falls, SD, nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends far and wide.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wilber.  Visitation is on Friday from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber.  Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Wilber.