Leroy Dean Zavadil

Leroy Dean Zavadil was born April 12, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to Karl and Rose Zavadil when his father was a student at Garrett Seminary. After his father’s graduation, the family moved to Wilber, Nebraska.

Dean’s young life was spent playing marbles, roller skating, riding his bike and swimming. He was an excellent swimmer and he and a teammate could swim quite a distance under water. Therefore, Wilber had a water polo team. He earned letters in football – four years and track – three years. Dean enlisted in the Navy during his senior year and left for the service after graduation in 1945. During his service “the bomb” was dropped, and he was discharged after two years. He decided to attend Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, which sparked his passions and his life’s work as electrical supervisor at U of N.

In September 1947, on a casual Saturday evening, he met Willma, the love of his life. After a 7-year courtship which included a one-year recall to the Navy during Korea, and a serious illness in Willma’s family, they were married on Willma’s 21st birthday February 6, 1954. To their union, three children were born: Douglas, Julie and Bonnie.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister; Sylvia and brother-in-law William Janeczko. He is survived by his wife, Willma; children, Doug, Julie (Phil) Rada and Bonnie (Mike) Macaraig; grandchildren, Erin (Sam) Sharpe, Shelby (Matt) Ferris, Jason (Sarah) Rada, Jessica (Alex) Moghaddam, Zack Macaraig and Kallan Macaraig; great-grandchildren, Brynlee, Dayton and Ryker Sharpe, Jaxon and Layla Ferris, Nolan Rada and Sean Moghaddam; and brother Charles (Sally) Zavadil.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday August 10, 2024 at 10:30 am with a reception to follow at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68512.