John V. Mencl

John V. Mencl, 95, formerly of Virginia, Nebraska, passed away Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2016 at the Beatrice Health and Rehabilitation in Beatrice, NE. He was born on a farm southwest of Virginia on July 19, 1921. John graduated from Virginia High School in 1940, where he was an outstanding basketball player and was proud to be the only guy in his class with several girls. He attended a semester at Peru State College in Peru, NE, and then briefly worked at a machine shop in Cleveland, Ohio, before joining the U S Navy in 1942 to engage in World War II.

During World War II, John served on a few different ships and finished his career as a Gunners Mate, supervising 27 sailors and the 5 inch guns of the USS Sioux Falls Victory Ship. Being a merchant ship of sorts, they would pick up cargos of needed goods in multiple areas and deliver them to the war zones in the Pacific. This included North and South America, traveling through the Panama Canal, going to New York, and back to the South Pacific. His ship was engaged in the Battle of Okinawa and his group shot down the Japanese Betty Bombers. They were close enough to some of the kamikaze planes to see the pilots. John never spoke about the war much until his last few years. He returned to his home town after the war, where he worked in Grey’s Tavern part time until he bought it with his brother Adolph in 1947. He also operated a harvesting and trucking business.

On May 27, 1950, John married Glenadine Pribyl in Barneston, NE. They were married for 59 years, until her death in 2009. They had one son, Ronald John (Ron) Mencl, two grandchildren, Sara and John, and one great grandchild, Adeline. He and Glenadine enjoyed traveling to every state in the union and several countries in Europe, spending time with his grandchildren, doing community service, fishing, camping, Husker football and volleyball, Royals baseball, and Happy Hour. 

They owned and operated Mencl’s Tavern in Virginia for 45 years and were recognized as state retailer of the year by the Nebraska Beverage Analysts in 1968. They bought the second television in town and naturally it went to the tavern so people could watch the fights on Saturday night. He catered beer and ice cream to many celebrations in the earlier years, while also serving lunch meals and the best burgers around. The tavern was the Sunday afternoon destination for many folks. They also operated the grocery store in town for several years. John also served on the board of directors of Citizens State Bank in Virginia and operated farm equipment and trucks for area farmers.   

He was active in many organizations and would introduce himself most often as: John Mencl – Virginia.  He loved the Virginia community and the people in the area. He was on the Village Board for over 50 years and served as the mayor most of those years. He also served on the Virginia School Board, Virginia Telephone Board, Virginia Cemetery Board, and mowed and trimmed the town, city utilities, and cemetery for many years. He was instrumental in bringing water and sewer services, and as a result served on the Pawnee County Rural Water Board for 34 years and was a certified utilities operator. John also served on the State Rural Water Board for 23 years and many of those as President, and made annual trips to Washington DC to meet with state representatives about their causes. He also served on the Beatrice Cemetery Board and was very proud of the Veterans section they created. It is fitting this is he and his wife’s final resting place.

John was the first post commander of Fisher Post 367 of the American Legion in 1958, and was instrumental in a fundraising project for their new building in 2002, after the other building was destroyed by a tornado. He also served the American Legion in the District, Area C, and State levels and the 40/8 Legion Organization in Lincoln. He also served over 40 years on the Gage County Veterans Service Office Committee.

Survivors include his son, Ron Mencl, of Beatrice, grandson, John Mencl, of Beatrice, granddaughter, Sara Halvorsen and husband Wade, of Aurora, NE, and great granddaughter, Adeline, of Aurora, NE; 1 brother-in-law, 4 sisters-in-laws, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Beulah (Habrick) Mencl, his brothers, Joseph, Charles, Adolph, Elvin, and Ernest, several sisters and brothers-in-laws, and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, September 1, 2016, at the First Christian Church in Beatrice with Rev. David Bigley officiating. Interment will follow in the Veterans Section of the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice, with military rites by the American Legion Fisher Post 367 of Virginia. A lunch will follow at the Legion Club in Virginia. Visitation will be held from 9 AM to 9 PM, with family greeting friends from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice. In lieu of flowers, a memorial, in care of the mortuary, will be established by the family at a later date. Condolences may be left online at www.harmanwrightmoruary.com. Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice is in charge of arrangements.    

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