Fred W. Krejci

Fred William Krejci, age 85 of Springfield, Nebraska (July 26, 1937-April 16, 2023) 

Fred was born in Deadwood, South Dakota to Frank and Rosina (Greselin) Krejci.  Frank was a carpenter foreman for Homestake Mining Company, and Rosina was the head cook for Lead Public Schools.

Fred’s father built a 2-story family home on the Lead hillside after working at Igloo, SD ordnance depot during the war.  Fred helped his father with side projects and did work for the mining company in Lead.

Fred graduated from Lead High School in 1955.  He attended multiple universities and received a degree from the University of South Dakota and then furthered his studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he met his wife, Shirley, in 1976.  While receiving his education, he worked in commercial construction, building, highway, and nuclear fields doing quality control, estimating, contracting, and project management in multiple states including Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nebraska, California, and Missouri.

Fred married Shirley Jorgenson on May 19, 1979, and settled outside of Springfield, NE to raise their two children.  Fred was reserved and often with a quiet and thoughtful demeanor, though, to his close family, loved to conversate about gardening, fishing, travel, nature, history, family, and construction. 

Fred’s upbringing involved being a newspaper boy from age 11 into college.  His childhood home had a terraced backyard for their family garden and the family grew many flowers, fruits, and vegetables.  They would go out into the Black Hills and pick wild berries. He learned quickly to be responsible. Life in the Black Hills demanded that he be resourceful and that he make necessities from what was available.  At Christmastime, he, his father, and two brothers would chop down a pine tree on their mining claim to decorate for the holiday season.  Fred continued the tradition every year of finding a fresh Christmas tree for his family.

Fred loved nature, including his yard and garden.  Fred said that his hobbies took his mind away from the wear of daily life.  His shared hobbies promoted curiosity in his children. He was curious about family history and ancestral travel with his favorite destinations being Lake Louise, Alberta, and Hungary, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic and Alaska. He always loved the familiar, relaxing, and frequent trips to the family lake cabin in western Nebraska.

Fred was Catholic and a prior member of St. Patrick`s in Lead, SD and St. Joseph's in Springfield, NE where he served as an eucharistic minister and was on the church council. He is a member of St Patrick’s in Gretna, NE.

He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 43 years; daughter Kara (Jason) Reed of Lincoln, son Andrew (Sarah) of Yutan, grandson Cameron Krejci, granddaughter Reese Krejci, brothers Frank (Carrie) of Richardson, TX, Raymond of Belle Fourche, SD, sister-in-law Tricia (Steve) Rosno of Leawood, KS, brother-in-law Kip Jorgenson of Hershey, NE, nieces, nephews, family and friends.  Fred was preceded in death by his parents, nephew John Krejci, and in-laws Virgil and Gladys Jorgenson and sisters-in-law Mary Kay (Schopen) Krejci and Mary Ann (Hansen) Jorgenson. 

Visitation is Tuesday, April 25, 5:00-6:30 p.m. with Vigil Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Roeder Mortuary 11710 Standing Stone Dr., Gretna, NE.  The funeral service is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 508 Angus St., Gretna, NE.  Fred will then be laid to rest in the hills south of North Platte, NE, at Floral Lawn Cemetery on Saturday, April 29, at 12:00 p.m.

Memorials can be sent to the American Diabetes Association or to the National Kidney Foundation.